Blue Songs (album)

Blue Songs is the second studio album by American electronic music band Hercules and Love Affair, released on January 28, 2011 by Moshi Moshi Records. The album features guest appearances from Bloc Party's Kele Okereke on the song "Step Up," and also includes vocal contributions from Kim Ann Foxman, Aerea Negrot and Shaun Wright. The song "It's Alright" is a cover of the Pet Shop Boys' 1988 song of the same name, originally recorded and released by Sterling Void and Paris Brightledge in 1987.

Critical reception
Blue Songs received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68, based on 28 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Barry Walters of Spin wrote that "Blue Songs' prevailing mood is deep indigo, not ultraviolet, yet that darkness heightens and complicates. By shunning regulation house fierceness, Butler and crew offer gentle nocturnal sacrament."

Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Blue Songs.


 * Hercules and Love Affair
 * Andrew Butler – production
 * Kim Ann Foxman – performer, musician
 * Aérea Negrot – performer, musician
 * Mark Pistel – additional production, co-production, mixing (track 8); performer, musician
 * Shaun J. Wright – performer, musician


 * Additional personnel


 * Mike Aaberg – performer, musician
 * Rich Armstrong – performer, musician
 * Marco Braca – grooming
 * Sheldon Brown – performer, musician
 * Marcelo Burlon – creative director
 * Crane – design
 * Simon Davey – mastering
 * Lynn Farmer – performer, musician
 * Jose Flores – performer, musician
 * Raffaele Grossi – assistant photography
 * Evan Herring – performer, musician


 * Matteo Montanari – photography
 * Murdoch – marble engraving
 * Kele Okereke – performer, musician
 * Patrick Pulsinger – co-production, mixing (tracks 1–7, 9–11); performer, musician
 * Jakob Schneidewind – performer, musician
 * Martin Siewert – performer, musician
 * Jeremy Turner – performer, musician
 * Marty Wehner – performer, musician
 * Morgan Wiley – performer, musician