The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg is the second album by South African band Beatenberg. It was self-produced [5] and released on 15 August 2014 on Universal Music Africa.[6] Thematically, the album captures thoughts of love and light-hearted subjects[7] The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg was recorded from June 2013 till March 2014 at Sunset Studios in Stellenbosch and vocalist Matthew Field's home studio.[8]
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg includes Beatenberg’s first hit single, “Chelsea Blakemore”, as well as follow-up singles "Pluto (Remember You)" and "Rafael".[2] The album and singles generally received positive reviews from critics. It peaked at number 2 on the South African iTunes chart[9] and was awarded the South African Music Awards prestigious Album of the Year for 2015.[10] At the end of 2015 the album was certified gold by Recording Industry of South Africa, for selling more than 15,000 copies in South Africa.[11][12]
The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg peaked at number 2 on the South African iTunes Charts,[9] following the success of their collaboration with DJ Clocks on his track "Pluto (Remember You)". The single became the longest running South African number-one single ever, with seventeen weeks on the local radio charts.[14]
In South Africa, the reviews were favourable. Andy Petersen of PLATFORM said, "it is anthemic and riveting".[13] The satirist Justin Nurse praised Beatenberg's second album, noting their influences and "familiarity that is so infectious".[15] SA Music Scene’s Vicky Jankiewicz praised it as a distinctive pop album with an “African flavour [in] their rhythms and beats".[16] HillyDilly critic Cole Ryan hailed it as “undoubtedly one of the best indie-pop [albums] presented [in 2014]"[17] The We-Are-Awesome blog wrote that it was a "Paul Simon-esque ballads [with] references to suburban nostalgia and an unashamed pop sensibility".[18] The award-winning BEARD.fm blog said "you can’t help but feel happy and picture people in old 1950’s outfits in a shebeen".[19]
Track listing
All songs written by Matthew Field except where noted.
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Rafael"
4:10
2.
"Beauty Like a Tightened Bow"
3:26
3.
"Chelsea Blakemore"
3:37
4.
"Pluto"
5:52
5.
"Southern Suburbs"
3:57
6.
"Scorpionfish"
3:28
7.
"Ithaca"
4:49
8.
"Cavendish Square"
4:02
9.
"Facebook Apologia"
3:41
10.
"Echoes"
3:36
11.
"All About Me"
3:09
12.
"Cape To Rio"
4:17
13.
"The Prince of the Hanging Gardens"
4:44
Total length:
55:18
'Deluxe edition' bonus tracks
No.
Title
Length
14.
"Achievement"
3:25
15.
"Thinking About You (cover; written by Frank Ocean)"
