These Hopeful Machines
Studio album by
BT
ReleasedFebruary 1, 2010
GenreElectronica, progressive breaks, progressive house, trance
Length108:26
LabelBlack Hole
ProducerBT
BT chronology
This Binary Universe
(2006)		 These Hopeful Machines
(2010)		 These Humble Machines
(2011)
Singles from These Hopeful Machines
  1. "The Rose of Jericho"
    Released: June 9, 2009
  2. "Every Other Way"
    Released: December 22, 2009
  3. "Suddenly"
    Released: January 12, 2010
  4. "Forget Me"
    Released: June 14, 2010
  5. "The Emergency"
    Released: September 28, 2010
  6. "Le Nocturne De Lumière"
    Released: November 23, 2010
  7. "Always"
    Released: May 17, 2011
  8. "A Million Stars"
    Released: August 16, 2011

These Hopeful Machines is the sixth studio album by American electronic musician BT. Released on February 1, 2010,[1] the album sees collaborations with the likes of JES, Rob Dickinson, Christian Burns and Kirsty Hawkshaw, also featuring a cover of "The Ghost in You" by The Psychedelic Furs. Because some tracks exceed 10 minutes in length, the album spans two discs with six tracks on each. In an effort to make the album more accessible to casual listeners, the record was eventually re-issued as a single-disc version with shorter tracks, titled These Humble Machines. In addition, the album would later spawn a double disc remix edition titled These Re-Imagined Machines, also featured as a "Limited Collector's Edition Box Set".[2] With great reception from critics, the album was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Awards under Best Electronic/Dance Album.[3]

Background

On June 9, 2009, the first part of the single "The Rose of Jericho" was released on Beatport, and the second (and last) part was released on June 23, 2009. Five remixes were released in all in these two parts along with BT's 'Deus Ex Machina Album Mix'.[4] The next single, "Every Other Way" was released on December 22, 2009. The third single of the album, "Suddenly", was the last to be released, on January 12, 2010 for digital-download only. Since the album release, the fourth and fifth singles, "Forget Me" and "The Emergency", were released on June 14, 2010[5] and September 28, 2010, respectively. The album was mastered by Joe LaPorta.

BT chose to release the album online to digital retailers as two large tracks to preserve the feel of an album.[6] On release day, an MP3 exclusive version of These Hopeful Machines was offered by Amazon which included a bonus remix of "Always", by Chicane. This download was available as 2 full A/B side tracks instead of the 12 individual album tracks.[7] The album was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Awards under "Best Electronic/Dance Album".[8]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Absolute Punk82%[10]
Sputnikmusic[11]
USA Today[12]
Wired.com9/10[13]

USA Today: "...even techno-phobes will be seduced by (BT's) forward-thinking musicality."[12]

Allmusic: "These Hopeful Machines doesn't try to convince, it's meant to reward the already converted with a vast wonderland of melodic glitch and prolonged bliss."[9]

Wired: "If you've never liked electronica before, this is the release that could change your mind."[13]

Sinning in LA: "Both discs offer compelling rides from start to finish."[14]

Track listing

Disc one ("Side A")
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Suddenly"BT, Christian Burns8:06
2."The Emergency"BT, Andrew Bayer10:38
3."Every Other Way"BT, JES11:23
4."The Light in Things"BT, JES10:47
5."The Rose of Jericho"BT7:43
6."Forget Me"BT, Christian Burns9:33
Total length:55:07
Disc two ("Side B")
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Million Stars"BT, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Ulrich Schnauss12:26
2."Love Can Kill You"BT5:21
3."Always"BT, Rob Dickinson6:12
4."Le Nocturne de Lumière"BT11:38
5."The Unbreakable"BT, Rob Dickinson10:25
6."The Ghost in You"The Psychedelic Furs7:57
Total length:53:19
Japan edition bonus tracks[15]
No.TitleLength
7."The Rose of Jericho" (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix)10:19
8."Every Other Way" (Armin van Buuren Remix)8:14
Total length:75:40
Amazon MP3 Exclusive[7]
No.TitleLength
1."Always" (Chicane Remix)8:19

Personnel

Disc one
  • Track 1: Vocals by BT and Christian Burns.
  • Track 2: Vocals by BT. Background vocals by Christian Burns. Additional production by Andrew Bayer.
  • Track 3: Vocals by JES. Background vocals by BT and Christian Burns.
  • Track 4: Vocals by JES.
  • Track 6: Vocals by BT and Christian Burns. End chorus sung by Kaia Transeau.
Disc two
  • Track 1: Vocals by Kirsty Hawkshaw. Background vocals by BT. Additional production by Ulrich Schnauss.
  • Track 2: Vocals by BT. Background vocals by Christian Burns.
  • Track 3, 5: Vocals by Rob Dickinson.
  • Track 6: Vocals by BT. Background vocals by Amelia June.

Release history

Country Date Label Catalogue
United States[16] February 2, 2010 Nettwerk 0 6700 30849 2 5
Canada[16]
Australia[17] 405 Recordings 45CD10007
Netherlands[18] Black Hole Recordings Black Hole CD 61
March 22, 2010 New State Recordings NEWCD9070
Japan[15] July 7, 2010 Victor Entertainment

References

  1. ↑ "BT - (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  2. ↑ BT - These Re-Imagined Machines at Discogs.
  3. ↑ "Final Nominations List" (PDF). Grammy Award. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  4. ↑ Archived December 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Forget Me [Black Hole Recordings". Beatport. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  6. ↑ BT: Music Should Be An Experience by Urban Marinade
  7. 1 2 Amazon.com: These Hopeful Machines (Amazon MP3 Exclusive Version): Bt: MP3 Downloads
  8. ↑ "Final Nominations List" (PDF). Grammy Award. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  9. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Review: These Hopeful Machines". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  10. ↑ "BT - These Hopeless Machines - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  11. ↑ "BT - These Hopeful Machines (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  12. 1 2 Jones, Steve; Shriver, Jerry; Gardner, Elysa; Mansfield, Brian (2010-02-05). "Listen Up: Lil Wayne's 'Rebirth' is no rock renaissance". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  13. 1 2 Silver, Curtis (February 2, 2010). "BT Talks These Hopeful Machines, Math and Inspiration". Wired.com. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  14. ↑ "These Hopeful Machines: BT Is Back And Better Than Ever On New Album". Sinning in LA. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  15. 1 2 "BT – These Hopeful Machines – by Victor Entertainment" (in Japanese). JVC Music. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Amazon.com: These Hopeful Machines: Bt: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  17. ↑ "405 Recordings News: BT - These Hopeful Machines". 405 Recordings. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  18. ↑ "Black Hole CD 61 BT - These Hopeful Machines". Black Hole Recordings. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
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