Self Civil War

Self Civil War is the thirty-fourth solo album by Julian Cope, released on his own label, Head Heritage. The album was available through his website on 10 January 2020.[3] It is the first release in Cope's intended Our Troubled Times series,[4] and like many of Cope's previous albums, Self Civil War is sequenced into four distinct phases.[5] The album title is taken from a poem written in the late 1630s by English clergyman Roger Brereley.[6]

Self Civil War
Studio album by
Julian Cope
Released10 January 2020
Genre
Length71:55
LabelHead Heritage
Julian Cope chronology
John Balance Enters Valhalla
(2019)		 Self Civil War
(2020)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Mojo[1]
Uncut8/10[2]

Critical reception

Roy Wilkinson of Mojo magazine wrote that Self Civil War recalls Cope's Island years, with 1992's Jehovahkill being a particular touchstone. Wilkinson noted the production's "particular DIY agenda," writing, "but this becomes part of an ambitious totality, one rich in melody, arrangement and subject matter."[1] With acoustic ballads, "Eddie Hazelesque guitar pyrotechnics" and "surprisingly catchy grooves," Tom Pinnock of Uncut magazine felt that the album is one of Cope's classics. He also felt that Cope's wordplay is on top form.[2] Bill Pearis of The Brooklyn Vegan website wrote, "There are cosmic psych jams, krautrock rhythms, mellotrons, cheesy synths, sound effects, mushroom tea folk, sea shanties, ren-fair ditties about norse gods, the terrible things we're doing to our planet every minute, plus anti-technology parables ... and at least a couple songs about drugs." Pearis concluded that "it's all rather charming, with great wit, empathy and no shortage of melody, either."[7]

Track listing

All lyrics and music written by Julian Cope, except where noted

Phase 1
No.TitleLength
1."That Aint No Way to Make a Million"7:22
2."A Cosmic Flash"6:40
3."You Will Be Mist"5:32
Phase 2
No.TitleLength
4."The Great Raven"5:53
5."Berlin Facelift"6:29
6."Immortal"4:13
Phase 3
No.TitleLength
7."Einstein"6:01
8."Billy"1:47
9."A Dope on Drugs"4:15
10."Your Facebook, My Laptop"2:52
Phase 4
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
11."Requiem for a Dead Horse" Cope, William Waine11:49
12."'Self Civil War'"Roger Brereley 1:12
13."A Victory Dance"  7:50

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]

  • Julian Cope – vocals, instruments
  • Philippe Legènde – drums, bongos, engineer
  • Christopher Holman – lead guitar on "That Aint No Way to Make a Million", "A Cosmic Flash" and "A Victory Dance"
  • Fat Paul – drums on "Requiem for a Dead Horse"
  • Cheeky – trumpet
  • Keith – trumpet
  • Avalon Cope – design

References
  1. Wilkinson, Roy (April 2020). "The Wiltshire archdrude evokes his boundless Island-label years". Mojo. p. 88.
  2. Pinnock, Tom (April 2020). "Mellotron it: Cope's latest long-playing transmission". Uncut. p. 26.
  3. "Julian Cope's new album SELF CIVIL WAR available now". Facebook. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. "Julian Cope - Self Civil War". Head Heritage. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. James Christopher Monger. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  6. Self Civil War (Album liner notes). Julian Cope. Head Heritage. 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. Bill Pearis (21 February 2020). "Bill's Indie Basement (2/21): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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