Award-winning composer for video games and Scottish artist, Barry "Epoch" Topping (PARADISE KILLER, SENTRY, THATCHER'S TECHBASE, ENCOUNTERS) returns with "The Needs", 11 songs of lavish reflection in a modern city pop style.
The album takes the listener through an emotional exploration of identity and change set against the backdrop of late summer. It fuses city pop, rock and dance music into a rich, dreamy blast of video game-tinged modern pop music. But "The Needs" is more than just an album title, like Barry explains: "It's a new ensemble built around a core of the musicians that worked with me on Paradise Killer: Fiona Lynch, Fabian Hernandez, Thomas Temple and Kyle Murray-Dickson.
A new trio of horns Elin Andersson, Nicklas Dahlin and Simon Fransman round out the full lineup. Having such talented musicians involved in a much bigger way has allowed us to challenge ourselves and make the best, most over the top music we've made yet. 'The Needs' was created as a vehicle for my own reflections and is intended to help listeners reflect and find solace too.
No album can be universal but if 'The Needs' can help people feel seen or understood then I'll feel like it's been a success. Getting to make the album has been an extremely rewarding experience."
DISC 1:
The Needs: Original Mix
1. The Needs - Part I: Solstice
2. 10%
3. Sparrows
4. From The Top
5. Heart of the Moon
6. Mayday
7. Red
8. Farcasting
9. Demons (Work It)
10. Karakuchi Suite
11. The Needs - Part II: Equinox
12. April [Bonus Track]
DISC 2:
The Needs: ReCovered
1. The Wicker Man
2. You Oughta Know
3. Festival Temple Castle
4. Von Dutch
5. When Will I Be Famous?
6. Left Outside Alone
The Needs: Instrumentals
7. The Needs - Part I: Solstice
8. 10%
9. Sparrows
10. From The Top
11. Heart of the Moon
12. Mayday
13. Red
14. Farcasting
15. Demons (Work It)
16. Karakuchi Suite
17. The Needs - Part II: Equinox
18. April [Bonus Track]