RUSHES (1998)

RUSHES is a 1998 ambient techno album by The Fireman, the second by Paul McCartney and producer Youth.

Better received then predecessor Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest, Rushes is distinguished by not relying so much on McCartney’s previous recordings.

Rushes was released in the UK on Hydra on 21 September 1998, while in the US it was released on Capitol on 20 October 1998. The album was also released on double vinyl. Two 12″ singles were released from the album, both mixes of “Fluid“. The first 12”, released on the same day as and with the same name as the album, contains the tracks “Fluid“, “Appletree Cinnabar Amber“, and an extended version of an album track titled “Bison (Long One)“.

The second 12” was released in 1999, as a limited edition of 3000, titled Fluid (Nitin Sawhney Remixes), and features three remixes of “Fluid” (“Fluid (Out of Body and Mind Mix)“, “Fluid (Out of Body Mix)” and “Fluid (Out of Body with Sitar Mix)“) and the album version of “Bison“.

Like the duo’s first album, Rushes was a no-show on the charts and is also no longer in print.

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One line of lyrics included in the song “Palo Verde” was taken from an unreleased track of McCartney’s, titled “Let Me Love You Always”.

Similarly, bits from another unreleased song, “Hey Now (What Are You Looking at Me For?)”, was used in “Bison”, “Auraveda” and “7 a.m.”.

Both unreleased tracks were recorded at some point during 1995, at McCartney’s The Mill studio. Two more songs were mentioned: “Plum Jam” and “Through the Marshes”.

All of the tracks featured on the album were recorded in February 1998.

Youth later referred to this album as his proudest of the Fireman albums. “We recorded the album when Linda was going through the final stages of her cancer.” “She was very involved with the project again. It was very sad when she died. When I listen to the album now, it sounds like a requiem for her, it’s very beautiful.”

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The Fireman brings bison for trancing in the streets.


The Fireman gives a watercolour rush, fluid.


The Fireman understands darsh walls and emerdeen sky. Do you?


The Fireman know’s a lemon’s peal.


And the power of the equinox
.

The Fireman heard a girl’s snatch-talk of a saucer, flying.


The Fireman likes the sound of mud.


The Fireman plays it all; Bass. Watercolour Guitar. Keyboards. Cymbals.


And the fool.


The Fireman looped a shadow’s clipclop.

And made auraveda.


The Fireman taped the talk of sex.


The Moon is right. So the Fireman comes.


The Moon is right. So The Fireman comes.

Rudely. 7am. 
 With Rushes.

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THE ALBUM

Watercolor Guitars

Palo Verde

Auraveda

Fluid

Apple Cinnabar Amber

Bison

7 a.m.

Watercolor Rush

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This second Fireman album is a dramatic improvement for me as it’s much easier to listen to then STRAWBERRIES… The tracks are flushed out with care and these transitions within the melodies are made more with greater care and frequency. This again only adds to the lavish landscape.

“Palo Verde” is my favorite, a clear tribute too Linda, which included riding of her horses and vocals.

It is unique and unlike anything he had done before so a listen for any McCartney fan who is unaware of this output in his musical cannon.

While I gave the first Fireman a basic 6.5, mostly on the chances taken, and for the times any of the track segments kicked into a groove.

For RUSHES, I do the same thing, but with an across the board 8.5/10. This is a wonderful album to put on the stereo or on a in your car at the start of a slow journey….

Basically an overlooked GEM.

Listen to it online and give me your feelings.

Next… started in 1971…sort of finished in 1978…and basically unreleased RUPERT THE BEAR SOUNDTRACK. Play narrates the story on each of the tracks. The original planned full Rupert movie and companion album.