Broken China

Broken China
Studio album by Richard Wright
Released	26 November 1996 (UK) 25 March 1997 (US)
Recorded	Early 1996 (Studio Harmonie, France)
Genre	Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, Ambient
Length	59:34
Label	EMI (UK) Guardian Records (US)
Producer	Richard Wright Anthony Moore Laurie Latham (co-producer)
Richard Wright chronology
Identity (with Zee) (1984) Broken China (1996)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Broken China is a progressive rock solo album by Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright.^[2]

Overview

The album is a four-part concept album which documents Wright's then-wife Mildred's battle with depression, and is very much like a classic Pink Floyd concept album in its structure and overall feel. Two songs, "Reaching for the Rail" and "Breakthrough" feature Sinéad O'Connor on lead vocals, with Wright singing elsewhere. The album was recorded in Wright's personal studio in France. Broken China was only Wright's second solo record after 1978's Wet Dream and the last to be released before his death in September 2008.

Wright asked fellow Pink Floyd bandmate David Gilmour to perform on the album, to which Gilmour agreed to play one track. However, the approach for the song was changed later on, and Gilmour's performance was not used on the finished album.

On the DVD David Gilmour in Concert, a guest appearance is made by Wright, who sings "Breakthrough" accompanied by David Gilmour and his band.

The packaging has artwork by Pink Floyd's regular designer, Storm Thorgerson, and Peter Curzon. The artwork is divided in four parts inside the booklet of the cd.^[3]

Track listing

Remix singles

Instrumental remix tracks from the "Broken China" (UK promo by The Orb)

1. "Night of a Thousand Furry Toys" (Inverted Gravy Mix, an Instrumental remix by William Orbit with Matt Ducasse.) – 8:31
2. "Runaway" (Anthony Moore) (R. Wright's lemonade mix) – 7:04
3. "Runaway" (Anthony Moore) (Leggit Dub) – 7:01

"Runaway" (remixes by The Orb)

Extended "Runaway" remixes, almost the double in length, exist and can be found on two "The Orb Remix Project" compilations:

1. "Runaway" (Anthony Moore) (R. Wrights Leggit Mix) — 13:42 on "Auntie Aubrey's Excursions Beyond The Call Of Duty Part 2" — Ultra Records 2001 (USA).
2. "Runaway" (Anthony Moore) (Leggit Dub) — 13:38 on "Auntie Aubrey's Excursions Beyond The Call Of Duty Part 2" — Deviant Records 2002 (UK).

Both remixes are the same, due to copyrights reasons these compilations have different tracks on the UK and USA versions. "Runaway" appears on both.

Personnel

• Richard Wright – keyboards, vocals, programming
• Anthony Moore – computer programming & arrangements, 'telephone vocal' (2)
• Sinéad O'Connor – lead vocals (12, 16)
• Tim Renwick – guitars
• Dominic Miller – guitars
• Steven Bolton – guitars
• Pino Palladino – bass guitar
• Manu Katché – drums, percussion
• Sian Bell – cello
• Kate St. John – oboe, cor anglais
• Maz Palladino – backing vocals

Design

• Storm Thorgerson, Peter Curzon - sleeve design
• Tony May - photography
• Jason Reddy - computer
• Julien Mils, Finlay Cowan - artwork

References

External links

• "Broken China by EMI Records". Archived from the original on 1999-04-29. Retrieved 2006-12-17. 
• Broken China Interview, by M. Blake, August 1996