Rite²

Rite² is an ambient music album by Julian Cope, released in 1997. It is technically Cope's fourteenth solo album, but is also the follow-up to the earlier album Rite (released in 1992 and credited to "Julian Cope & Donald Ross Skinner") and is the second in the Rite series.

For Rite², Cope collaborated extensively with synthesizer player Thighpaulsandra (Coil, Spiritualized) although the album was credited to Cope alone. The album has been described as a tribute of sorts to Krautrock bands such as Amon Düül II and Tangerine Dream and is based on the sound of the Mellotron and the wah-wah guitar, although it also employs miscellaneous tone generators the ARP 2600 synthesizer and the Hammond B3 organ, as well as vocal chants.

Rite² was the debut release on Cope's Head Heritage label, which would be the home of almost all of his future recordings.

Critical reception
John Bush of Allmusic called Rite² "one of Julian Cope's most consistent works" and commented: "Instead of leaping to and fro between undeniably catchy synth-pop and fractured end-of-the-century prog, Cope sticks to the prog and comes out better for it."

Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Musicians Technical
 * Julian Cope – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, Mellotron 400 and Mark 2
 * Thighpaulsandra – grand piano, ARP 2600, Mellotron 400, Faerial 5
 * Mark "Rooster" Cosby – crystal machine, tone generator, accordion
 * Donald Ross Skinner – Hammond B3 organ, crystal machine and alto stylophone
 * Jody Evans – kraut/stereo presence and un-rec. percussions
 * Julian Cope – producer, directed by
 * Thighpaulsandra – recorded by, computed by
 * Shaun Harvey – recorded by
 * Adam Fullerton – Mr. Sandra's modifications
 * Martin Smith – all Mellotronic maintenance
 * John Bradley – all Mellotronic maintenance
 * Get Carter/Copix – design