TheFutureEmbrace is the debut solo album by Billy Corgan, frontman from the Smashing Pumpkins, released in June 21, 2005. The album’s sound was markedly different from most of Corgan‘s earlier work, eschewing his characteristic “drums, bass, (and) big-guitars sound” in favor of an electronic sound punctuated with heavily distorted guitar parts reminiscent of shoegaze.
After the dissolution of Zwan in late 2003, Corgan set to work on a solo album of songs based on the history of his hometown, Chicago. This project was shelved and Corgan began work on TheFutureEmbrace in late 2004 in his Chicago studio, Pumpkinland. Rather than repeat the sonic territory of his earlier bands, Corgan decided on an electronic sound with shoegaze influences. Regarding the atypical sound of the album, Corgan remarked:
“I chose to not use the conventional drums, bass, big-guitars sound both because I’m so identified with it and I felt that there’s sort of a corner there that I didn’t want to paint myself in, plus it reminds people of the Pumpkins, and I think for a solo record, having your solo work be reminiscent of your past work, particularly with the band you’re known for, gets into a trickiness because it makes people sentimental for the old band, and makes them hate you because you’re not in the band.”
The sound of the album is almost entirely synthesized, with the exception of Corgan‘s voice and guitar playing. Corgan has an extensive collection of vintage analog synthesizers and drum machines that were employed on the album. The synths were largely programmed by Bon Harris of Nitzer Ebb.
Arrangements on the album followed an unusual process: for each song, Corgan would write the basic structure, and the song’s melody was then split into four sections based on the bass, tenor, alto, and soprano voicings of the chord structure. The production team: Corgan, Harris, producer Bjorn Thorsrud, and programmers Matt Walker and Brian Liesegang, would then program different synth melodies in each voicing, and combine them into a multitrack recording.
Drums were added, mostly from pre-1985 drum machines. At this point, Corgan would rework vocal parts and record vocals, as well as recording his guitar part. Each song contains a single take of guitar, in stark contrast to the Boston-style multitracking employed on Smashing Pumpkins albums. Despite the challenge of this approach, it was employed for all album tracks as well as an additional 8 outtakes.
The album features backing vocals and a guitar solo by The Cure frontman Robert Smith on a cover of the Bee Gees‘ song “To Love Somebody”, while “DIA” features electronic drums played by Corgan‘s longtime collaborator, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, as well as the violin and backing voice of Emilie Autumn.
Tracklist:
- All Things Change
- Mina Loy (M.O.H.)
- The CameraEye
- ToLoveSomebody (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb)
- A100 (Billy Corgan/Bon Harris)
- DIA
- Now (And Then)
- I’m Ready
- Walking Shade
- Sorrows (In Blue)
- Pretty, Pretty Star
- Strayz
- Tilt (iTunes exclusive) Bonus track
Credits
Billy Corgan: vocals, guitar, drum machine, synth, programming, production, mixing
Bon Harris: programming, production
Brian Liesegang: additional programming
Bjorn Thorsrud: production, mixing, engineering
Matt Walker: additional programming
Guest musicians
Emilie Autumn: vocals and violin on “DIA”
Jimmy Chamberlin: drums on “DIA”
Robert Smith: vocals and guitar on “ToLoveSomebody”
Production
Todd Brodie: engineering assistance
P. R. Brown: sleeve photography and design
Nikola Dokic: engineering assistance
Roger Lian: final digital editing
Ron Lowe: mix engineering
John Maschoff: engineering assistance
Alan Moulder: mixing
Dave Rieley: engineering assistance
Paul PDub Walton: recording of Robert Smith’s parts
Howie Weinberg: mastering
