Remain Calm
2016 studio album by Mica Levi and Oliver Coates
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Remain Calm is a collaborative studio album by English musicians Mica Levi and Oliver Coates. It was released on 25 November 2016 through Slip. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[2]
| Remain Calm | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 25 November 2016 | |||
| Genre | Experimental[1] | |||
| Length | 27:51 | |||
| Label | Slip | |||
| Mica Levi chronology | ||||
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| Oliver Coates chronology | ||||
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Background
Mica Levi is an English composer, record producer, and singer-songwriter.[3] Oliver Coates is an English cellist.[4] Remain Calm originates from the duo's NTS session in 2014.[5][6] It consists of 13 tracks, clocking in at 28 minutes.[7] Coates previously provided strings on Levi's soundtrack to the film Under the Skin.[8]
The album was released on 25 November 2016 through Slip.[9] Music videos were released for "Barok Main"[10] and "Dolphins Climb onto Shore for the First Time".[11]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 76/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Clash | 7/10[13] |
| Drowned in Sound | 6/10[14] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[7] |
| Pitchfork | 7.7/10[1] |
| Resident Advisor | 3.7/5[15] |
| Tiny Mix Tapes |  [16] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Remain Calm received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 from 9 critic scores.[2]
Paul Simpson of AllMusic commented that "It's not exactly a 'fun' album, but there is a sense of playfulness to it, and the duo seem excited to uncover such unexpected combinations of sounds."[12] He added, "The result is an unpredictable, captivating listening experience."[12] Thea Ballard of Pitchfork wrote, "Even as its mood slides from pensive to morose to quietly exuberant, this remains throughout one of the more enjoyable experimental releases this year."[1]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Quietus | The Quietus Albums of the Year 2016 | 77 |
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| The Vinyl Factory | The 50 Best Albums of 2016 | 22 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mica Levi and Oliver Coates.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pre-Barok" | 1:57 |
| 2. | "Bless Our Toes" | 2:32 |
| 3. | "Dolphins Climb onto Shore for the First Time" | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Schoolhouse" | 0:42 |
| 5. | "Dragon in the Mist" | 1:10 |
| 6. | "I'll Keep Going" | 3:45 |
| 7. | "Xhill Stepping" | 3:35 |
| 8. | "Fight in the Men's Toilets" | 0:27 |
| 9. | "Barok Main" | 3:12 |
| 10. | "County H" | 1:27 |
| 11. | "New Wren Kitch" | 2:37 |
| 12. | "Say Goodbye to Everyone" | 0:35 |
| 13. | "Mob of Waters" | 2:20 |
| Total length: | 27:51 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[19]
- Mica Levi – performance, mixing
- Oliver Coates – performance, mixing
- Erik Nyström – recording
- Beau Thomas – mastering
- Leah Walker – artwork