If You've Never Been

by Embrace

Overview

With Embrace's debut, the band was Orson Welles-style excessive. The follow-up, Drawn From Memory, was oversimplified, lacking the grandeur of its predecessor. If You've Never Been was hoped to be a meeting between the two. Embrace's third LP does hit its target, but has lost something along the way. The band's harder edge has been almost totally lost, and while the rock & roll tracks were never the finest moments of their previous releases, they did add some diversity. With these lost, If You've Never Been seems decidedly straightforward and lackluster. The album is not without merit, though. The opening track, "Over," is a superb recording, a definite peak for Embrace. "Wonder" is another fine track, but slightly wishy-washy. The rest of the album is distinctly average. It seems Embrace has yet to find its true sound. ~ Ben Davies

Product Details

Release Date:	03/20/2020
Label:	Craft Records
UPC:	0888072159624
Rank:	126547

Tracks

1. Over
2. I Hope You're Happy Now
3. Wonder
4. Many Will Learn
5. It's Gonna Take Time
6. Hey, What You Trying to Say
7. If You've Never Been in Love With Anything
8. Make It Last
9. Happiness Will Get You in the End
10. Satellites

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Embrace   Primary Artist
Jim Hunt   Brass
Ben Castle   Brass
Andrew Ross   Brass
Michael Kearsey   Brass
Pete Wareham   Brass
Simon Finch   Brass
Finn Peters   Brass
Willia Jackson   Conductor
Andrew Morrell   Brass
Steven Firth   Guitar (Bass)
Richard McNamara   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Mike Heaton   Drums,Melodica,Percussion,Vibraphone,Vocals (Background)
Darren Wiles   Brass
Danny McNamara   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Mickey Dale   Guitar,Keyboards,Vibraphone,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Ken Nelson   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Embrace   Producer
Michael Hunter   Mixing,Engineer
Willia Jackson   Arranger,Orchestral Score
Richard McNamara   Composer
Danny McNamara   Composer
Mickey Dale   String Arrangements