''Whole Damn Body'' is an

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

(EP) by Welsh

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

band Los Campesinos!, released independently on 7 May 2021. It is a

compilation Compilation may refer to: *In computer programming, the translation of source code into object code by a compiler **Compilation error **Compilation unit *Product bundling, a marketing strategy used to sell multiple products *Compilation thesis M ...

of songs recorded from the sessions of their fourth studio album, ''

Hello Sadness ''Hello Sadness'' is the fourth studio album by Welsh indie pop band Los Campesinos!. It was recorded during summer 2011 in a small studio near Figueres, Spain, and was produced by John Goodmanson. It is the band's first release to feature new ...

'' (2011), most of which had only been released via the band's

zine A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published Self-publishing is the publication of media by its author at their own cost, without the involvement of a publisher. The term usually refers to writ ...

or fan website. ''Whole Damn Body'' was released digitally and on

cassette Cassette may refer to: Technology * Cassette tape (or ''musicassette'', ''audio cassette'', ''cassette tape'', or ''tape''), a worldwide standard for analog audio recording and playback ** Cassette single (or "Cassingle"), a music single in the ...

to coincide with the record's tenth anniversary.

Release

Throughout 2011 and 2012, Los Campesinos! issued a bi-annual

titled ''Heat Rash'', where subscribers would receive a

7-inch single In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...

featuring two exclusive, unreleased tracks in each drop. Six out of the seven tracks on ''Whole Damn Body'' are derived from this programme. The other song, "Tiptoe Through the True Bits", was released independently in 2012 on the band's blog. ''Whole Damn Body'' was surprise-released via

Bandcamp Bandcamp is an American online audio distribution platform founded in 2007 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with headquarters in Oakland, California, US. On March 2, 2022, Bandcamp ...

on 7 May 2021, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of their fourth studio album, ''

'' (2011). The EP's only physical version was on

Reception

Writing for '' Far Out'', Tyler Golsen called the record "seven tracks of high energy no bullshit

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...

", demonstrating "the band at their wittiest, catchiest, and thoughtful best". He continued that the EP "barely gives you time to breathe, much less take in all that’s happening on the relatively short run time", praising its complex themes and imagery. Abby Jones of music publication '' Pitchfork'' commended the record's

lyricism Lyricism is a quality that expresses deep feelings or emotions in an inspired work of art. Often used to describe the capability of a Lyricist. Description Lyricism is when art is expressed in a beautiful or imaginative way, or when it has an ...

and thematic consistency with their back catalogue, "filled with the band’s sticky hooks and guttural vocals". Nick Matthopoulos of ''Atwood Magazine'' praised ''Whole Damn Body'' for presenting "beautifully and poetically miserable highs and lows", containing "clever and emotional lyrics, a range of energy and dynamics, and equally expressive instrumentation".

Track listing

Original releases * ''Heat Rash'' edition No. 1 (April 2011) contained "Light Leaves, Dark Sees, Pt. I" and "Four Seasons" * ''Heat Rash'' edition No. 3 (June 2012) contained "Allez Les Blues" and "Dumb Luck" * ''Heat Rash'' edition No. 4 (November 2012) contained "She Crows" and "To the Boneyard".

Personnel

Musicians * Los Campesinos!, specifically: ** Tom Bromley – writing; producer, mixing, recording , brass arrangement ** Gareth Paisey – writing, vocals ** Neil Turner – writing , guitar ** Rob Taylor – artwork ** Harriet Coleman – vocals , violin * Samantha Boshnack – trumpet,

flugelhorn The flugelhorn (), also spelled fluegelhorn, flugel horn, or flügelhorn, is a brass instrument that resembles the trumpet and cornet but has a wider, more conical bore. Like trumpets and cornets, most flugelhorns are pitched in B, though some ...

* Nelson Bell – trombone, tuba * Jherek Bischoff – brass arrangement Technical * John Goodmanson – producer, mixing, recording * Jose Luis Molero –

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...

* Eric Corson – engineering * Simon Francis – mastering

Release history

References

{{Los Campesinos! 2021 EPs 2021 compilation albums EPs by Welsh artists Los Campesinos! albums Albums produced by John Goodmanson