David McAlmont - Be (2000)

David Irving McAlmont was born 2 May 1967, growing up in Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk until 1978, when the family departed the United Kingdom for Guyana, residing with his grandparents in Lovely Lass Village Berbice, and then with his aunt in Wismar, Demerara. Moving back to the UK in 1989 to continue his education at Middlesex Polytechnic reading Performing Arts on the BAPA programme, he signed a publishing contract with Chrysalis Music in 1992, followed by a record deal with Virgin's Hut Records two years later. McAlmont first became noticed in the London band Thieves, who attracted early attention with the 1992 single 'Through The Door', but despite the release of a third single 'Either', Thieves split acrimoniously in 1994 shortly before the release of their first album. Following legal wrangling, the album was eventually released as the debut David McAlmont album under the title of 'McAlmont'. Despite some positive press attention, in particular regarding his startling voice, the album was not a commercial success. He continued his solo career until he was approached by ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, and in 1995 this collaboration produced 'The Sound Of McAlmont And Butler', an album of songs including 'Yes', which reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart. Another single, 'You Do', was released later that year, and peaked at number 17, but shortly after this McAlmont and Butler went their separate ways. The producer David Arnold then worked with McAlmont on a version of 'Diamonds Are Forever', which led to them working together on his second album 'A Little Communication', which came out in 1998. In the years that followed he worked occasionally with Ultramarine and Craig Armstrong, and prepared his third album 'Be', but although it was hailed by The Guardian as "Britain's first Zen Pop album", it was shelved by his record label, Hut Records, who had lost interest in the project, leading to McAlmont's departure from the label. Promo copies were released to the press, however, hence the Guardian review, and so we are able to hear what 'Be' would have sounded like had it been released before McAlmont reunited with Butler in 2001 to produce their second joint album in 2002's 'Bring It Back'. 

Track listing

01 Ice Man
02 Easy
03 Inspiration
04 I Want You
05 Be
06 Timeless
07 Working
09 Foot Of The Hill
10 Remember Yourself
11 In The Beginning
12 Outro