Origin of Symmetry (album)

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Cover art
XX Anniversary RemiXX Cover art
Muse album
Name Origin of Symmetry
Tracks
  • 11 (World) »
  • 12 (JP)
  • 6 (exclusive advanced promo CD)
Total length 51:42
Recorded November-December 2000-2001
Writer/composer Matthew Bellamy
Producer David Bottrill, John Leckie
Art work William Eagar
Publisher
Format(s)
  • CD, double 12" vinyl, cassette, minidisc »
  • CD-R (promo only)
  • Vinyl, digital (20th anniversary remix)
Catalogue №
  • MUSH93CD (CD), MUSH93CDX (digipak CD), 505046684721 (reissue) »
  • 481.2010.070 (BX)
  • CTCM65001 (JP CD)
  • WPCR12560 (JP re-release CD)
  • MUSH93LP (vinyl)
  • NV 38561 (FR vinyl)
  • 589 058-1 (DE vinyl)
  • WB47984 (vinyl re-issue)
  • NV 38551 (FR cassette)
  • CPT-2464 (KR cassette)
  • MUSE 14 (promo CD)
  • 51134823 (Exclusive advanced promo CD)
Release date
  • 18th June 2001 (GB) »
  • 28th August 2001 (US) (cancelled)[1]
  • 20th September 2005 (US)
  • 27th August 2003 (re-issue)
  • 21st February 2007 (JP re-issue)
  • 18th August 2009 (vinyl re-issue)
Chart position 3 (GB)
album chronology
Showbiz
←
Origin of Symmetry
→
Absolution
Singles
Plug In Baby CD1.pngNew Born CD1.pngBliss CD1.pngFeeling Good CDS cover.jpg


Information

Origin of Symmetry came first about through the changes Muse underwent during their intensive touring in promotion of Showbiz, with a lot of material written whilst touring.[2] However, this album is more riff orientated and slightly darker than Showbiz, containing several songs which use piano or organ. Origin of Symmetry was intended as a more progressive rock-styled album,[2] with different vocal styles than that of Showbiz. The ambition behind the album was to show the harder rock and eccentric elements of the band, that they felt had not been seen so far.[2] This included bringing back a lot of music "filtered out" from Showbiz.[2] The bass in the album is also more prominent and distorted. Some of the songs of the album draw influence from the band members' relationships suffering from the effects of them being on tour.[2]

Title

The name of the album was inspired by the book Hyperspace by theoretical physicist Michio Kaku. It discusses how a future book about the discovery of supersymmetry should be entitled "The Origin Of Symmetry", due to its implications in physics, in reference to the explanatory impact Charles Darwin's "On The Origin Of Species" had on biology.[2]. Matt said: "The name of the album, 'Origin Of Symmetry', is from a book about geometry of the universe and how it's all in beautiful balance, a perfect thing in ten dimensions. It explains all the mysterious forces we invented religions around.[3]. According to Bellamy, "everyone’s been writing about the origin of life so now they’ll start looking at the origin of symmetry; there’s a certain amount of stability in the universe and to find out where it originates from would be to find out if God exists.”[4]

Recording

Muse recording Origin of Symmetry

"New Born", "Plug In Baby", "Bliss" and "Darkshines" were recorded with David Bottrill in the middle of touring in late 2000, in Ridge Farm Studios, Surrey.[2] The songs were recorded as if in a live situation, within a few days.[2] The band later had to re-master the songs with John Cornfield after the tour was over, in order to make them suitable for release, as they were not satisfied with the mixing of these tracks.[2] Matt attributes this to the effects of the hallucinogenics, which were "great for exploring new territory", but "certainly not good for finishing things off".[2] The stripping down of these songs helped set the tone for the recording of the rest of the album. "New Born", "Plug In Baby" and "Bliss" were seen as the "backbone of the album" and provided a basis from which the band could be more experimental with the other songs.[2]

John Leckie pushed the band to explore some of the more experimental ideas. Some of this took the form of using new percussion for particular songs, such as using a balafon, as well as animal bones and llama toenails on "Screenager".[2] Matt felt this was necessary in order to for him to write the lyrics for the album.[2] Classical music also began to have a great impact on the writing of songs for Origin Of Symmetry, particularly on the way Matt perceived music itself.[2] The song "Space Dementia" was inspired by Sergei Rachmaninov, whose music Matt began to listen to whilst writing the album.[2]

"Feeling Good" was included on the album because it was a piano based song, and was a favourite of a girlfriend Matt had at the time.[2] The standard release of the album was also originally intended to include many songs that would later become B-sides, including "Shrinking Universe", "Tesseract" ("Futurism") and "Natural Disaster" ("Nature_1"), as well as unidentified songs entitled "Origin of Symmetry" and "Love Bleach".[5][6]

Pre-release

The promo CD sits in a flat plastic box with a Muse logo on it, which is held together by screws in two corners of the case. The aforementioned CD originally came with a perspex screw driver. Two versions of the promo CD were distributed in the UK. These two versions only differ in the plastic the box is made from; one tinged yellow and the other grey. A similar promotional CD was used in France, some copies of which were distributed in plastic boxes as with the UK version.

The track list on the UK promo CD has incorrect track lengths for all tracks, but the audio is identical to the released album. Unmastered promo CD-Rs were distributed in the UK and Germany. The Bleeb Unmastered and German CD-R promos are unmastered and have beeping sounds every few minutes to indicate the CD is a press preview copy. The unmastered promos feature uncut versions of the songs, for example, "Bliss" has a 30 second appregiated outro that is not featured in the released album version, and "Citizen Erased" does not merge into "Micro Cuts". Additionally the Exclusive Advanced Promo CD was distributed in Germany, and contains six faded song samples from the album.

Release

Origin of Symmetry was to be released in the US on the 28th August 2001[1] but the release was cancelled after Muse left Maverick. It was finally released in the US in 2005 after Absolution became successful there. It was the only Muse album not to be released on Ukrainian Records in Ukraine, and was instead released directly under Motor. Thus, it did not have a promotional cassette like other Ukrainian Muse releases.

The album was originally released as a CD-ROM with the MuseTV feature linked to online bonus material. This later ceased to function once the MuseTV media had been removed from the Internet. The CD was available in either a digipak or jewel case.

The album has gone Gold in the UK, with sales over 100,000.

Origin of Symmetry was reissued in double 12" vinyl on the 18th of August, 2009 to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the debut album, Showbiz.

Origin of Muse

Origin of Symmetry was reissued once again in 2019 for the bands' 20th anniversary in a limited box set called Origin of Muse, together with Showbiz. This time, it was accompanied by the remastered main album (available on both CD and two vinyls), a demo-album, containing instrumental demos of songs like Micro Cuts, Citizen Erased and Megalomania, and a live album, with a high quality audio version of the Origin of Symmetry 10th anniversary performance from Reading Festival 2011.

Origin of Symmetry: XX Anniversary RemiXX album cover

Origin of Symmetry: XX Anniversary RemiXX

On 19th May 2021, it was announced that Muse will be releasing a fully remixed and remastered version of Origin of Symmetry, stylistically named Origin of Symmetry: XX Anniversary RemiXX, in celebration of the album's 20th anniversary. The album was remixed by long-time collaborator Rich Costey, providing a more clear, dynamic and less crushed sound to the album. The album features no re-recorded parts, but the new mixes highlight certain parts of the original songs that were previously buried or muted on the original album, such as string sections in "Space Dementia", "Citizen Erased" and "Megalomania", and a harpsichord on "Micro Cuts". The remix also includes the Japanese bonus track Futurism. In terms of design, it features a new, modernised version of the album cover made by artist Sujin Kim.

The first single released from the remixed album was Citizen Erased, released on May 20th, 2021, with the second single, Megalomania released on June 5th. The remixed album will be available both digitally and on vinyl, with two vinyl options available; standard black and a translucent yellow and orange version (latter is exclusive to the official Muse store).

The digital version was released on June 18th, while the vinyl is going to be out on July 9th.

Artwork

In a 2001 interview, Matthew Bellamy stated that the artwork is "a collection of the work of 14 artists who’ve all been given that same title, so even though each piece is in a radically different style, you get a sense of there being some form of continuity through different people’s perceptions of the same theme."[7]

The Muse logo set in Helvetica that appears on Origin Of Symmetry (above), and the regular Muse logo set in Frutiger as seen on all other releases (below)

The album art displays a slightly irregular version of the Muse logo. While the regular one utilizes the Frutiger Black typeface, this altenate version is set in Helvetica Bold.

The 20th Anniversary LP box contains sleeves which are of the same design as on the original vinyl, but the main artwork has been updated, with the antennas and the environment looking alot more detailed and dystopian.

Track list

CD, promo CDs

  1. New Born
  2. Bliss
  3. Space Dementia
  4. Hyper Music
  5. Plug In Baby
  6. Citizen Erased
  7. Micro Cuts
  8. Screenager
  9. Darkshines
  10. Feeling Good
  11. Megalomania

Vinyl

A
  1. New Born
  2. Bliss
B
  1. Space Dementia
  2. Hyper Music
  3. Plug In Baby
C
  1. Citizen Erased
  2. Micro Cuts
  3. Screenager
D
  1. Darkshines
  2. Feeling Good
  3. Megalomania

JP CD

  1. New Born
  2. Bliss
  3. Space Dementia
  4. Hyper Music
  5. Plug In Baby
  6. Citizen Erased
  7. Micro Cuts
  8. Screenager
  9. Darkshines
  10. Feeling Good
  11. Futurism
  12. Megalomania

JP promo CD

  1. New Born
  2. Hyper Music
  3. Feeling Good
  4. Bliss
  5. Plug In Baby

Unmastered press preview, unmastered UK CD-R, German promos

All tracks are unmastered and unblended versions

  1. New Born
  2. Bliss
  3. Space Dementia
  4. Hyper Music
  5. Plug In Baby
  6. Citizen Erased
  7. Micro Cuts
  8. Feeling Good
  9. Screenager
  10. Darkshines
  11. Megalomania

Exclusive advanced promo CD

All tracks are faded samples

  1. New Born
  2. Bliss
  3. Plug In Baby
  4. Citizen Erased
  5. Feeling Good
  6. Darkshines

MuseTV enhanced element master

  1. MuseTV

Origin of Symmetry: XX Anniversary RemiXX, Digital

  1. New Born
  2. Bliss
  3. Space Dementia
  4. Hyper Music
  5. Plug In Baby
  6. Citizen Erased
  7. Micro Cuts
  8. Screenager
  9. Darkshines
  10. Feeling Good
  11. Futurism
  12. Megalomania

Origin of Symmetry: XX Anniversary RemiXX, Vinyl

M
  1. New Born
  2. Bliss
U
  1. Space Dementia
  2. Hyper Music
  3. Plug In Baby
S
  1. Citizen Erased
  2. Micro Cuts
  3. Screenager
  4. Darkshines
E
  1. Feeling Good
  2. Futurism
  3. Megalomania

Personnel

Muse

  • Matthew Bellamy - lead vocals, lead and rhytm guitars, piano, keyboards, Wurlitzer piano (track 10), pipe organ (track 11), strings arragement, production, mixing

  • Chris Wolstenholme - bass, backing vocals, double bass (track 10), vibraphone, production, mixing

  • Dominic Howard - drums, percussion, production, mixing


    • Guest musicians

  • Jacqueline Norrie - violin

  • Sara Herbert - violin

  • Clare Finnimore - viola

  • Caroline Lavelle - cello


    • Additional personnel

  • David Bottrill - production and engineering (tracks 1, 2, 5 and 9)

  • John Leckie - production and engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11)

  • Ric Peet - engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11)

  • Steve Cooper - additional engineering and programming (tracks 1, 2, 5 and 9)

  • Chris Brown - additional engineering and programming (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11)

  • Mark Thomas - assistant engineering (tracks 2, 4, 5 and 7)

  • Claire Lewis - assistant engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11)

  • Damon Iddins - assistant engineering

  • Mirek Styles - assistant engineering

  • John Cornfield - mixing

  • Ray Staff - mastering

  • William Eagar - artwork


    • Personnel (XX Anniversary RemiXX)

  • Rich Costey - mixing

  • Aleks Von Korff - mixing assistance

  • Alex Wharton - mastering

  • Sujin Kim - artwork

    Second album recording gallery

    • How heavy the new site is

    • Recording the song with no name

    • Matt scoring the string quartet

    • The joy after sceaming

    • I can see the blue light

    • Chris looking pleased with the bass sound

    • Chris on some leather

    • Space Dementia

    • Drum sounds for Space Dementia

    • Arriving at Abbey Road

    • This is a big live room!

    • Chris getting some nice new gear

    • Recording vocals

    • Starting work on guitars...

    • John Leckie and Chris (assistant)

    • The first evening in Astoria

    • The Astoria Studios

    • Arriving at Astoria Studio

    • "Knees up mother Brown.."

    • Matt's new Manson guitar

    • "Just the two of us...."

    • Matt and a harpsichord

    • Photodiary 14.02.2001

    • New guitar, blue shirt

    • The 'Big Brother' craze gets out of proportion

    • "badda-da-badda-da-badda-da"

    • "Recording pipe organ at St Mary’s Church for Megalomania back in 2001" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Recording pipe organ at St Mary’s Church for Megalomania back in 2001" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Recording pipe organ at St Mary’s Church for Megalomania back in 2001" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Recording pipe organ at St Mary’s Church for Megalomania back in 2001" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Recording Hyper Music in the stone room at @realworldstudios" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Recording Hyper Music in the stone room at @realworldstudios" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Recording the ending to Space Dementia at @abbeyroadstudios" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Harpsichord at @realworldstudios used for Micro Cuts" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Harpsichord at @realworldstudios used for Micro Cuts" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Harpsichord at @realworldstudios used for Micro Cuts" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Dom playing the balafon with some bones on Screenager" (via Muse's Instagram)

    • "Dom playing the balafon with some bones on Screenager" (via Muse's Instagram)

    (via microcuts.net & Muse's Instagram)

    Album artwork

    • by Darrell Gibbs, 2001

    • by Austin, 2001

    • by Leo Marcantonio, 2001

    • by Toni Oladipo, 2001

    • by Butch Gordan, 2001

    • by Tim Berry, 2001

    • by Tim Berry, 2001

    • by Adam Cruickshank, 2001

    • by Marilyn Patridean, 2001

    • by Simon Earith, 2001

    • by David Foldvari, 2001

    Origin Of Symmetry Gallery

    • Digipak cover art

    • Digipak interior and disc

    • Digipak back cover

    • DE digipak cover art

    • DE digipak interior and disc

    • DE digipak back cover

    • UA cover art

    • UA interior and disc

    • UA back cover

    • IL cover art

    • IL interior and disc

    • IL back cover

    • JP cover art

    • Vinyl cover

    • Vinyl back cover

    • DE vinyl cover

    • DE vinyl back cover

    • DE vinyl interior

    • DE vinyl interior sleeves

    • DE vinyl discs

    • Promo case

    • Promo CD

    • FR promo CD

    • DE Bleeb unmastered promo cover art

    • DE Bleeb unmastered promo back cover and CD

    • Exclusive advanced promo cover art

    • Exclusive advanced promo back cover and CD

    • US gold stamped promo cover

    • US gold stamped promo back cover

    • Unmastered press preview promo CD-R

    • Unmastered promo CD-R

    • DE unmastered promo CD-R (bleebed)

    • US promo CD-R

    • Cassette cover art

    • Cassette back cover art

    • Cassette A side

    • Cassette B side

    • TR cassette cover

    • TR cassette back cover

    • KR cassette cover art

    • KR cassette back cover

    • Mini-disc cover art

    • Mini-disc interior

    • Mini-disc back

    • Mini-disc cover back

    • 20th anniversary cover art

    Spread Gallery

    • JP CD digipak

    • UK CD (Mushroom)

    • UK CD (EastWest)

    • UK CD digipak

    • US CD

    • US 12" vinyl

    • XX Anniversary RemiXX (Black vinyl)

    • XX Anniversary RemiXX (Coloured vinyl)

    Interview Promo

    Front cover
    Interior and disc
    Back cover
    Muse release
    Name Interview Promo
    Tracks 71
    Total length 33:00
    Recorded 2001
    Writer/composer -
    Producer David Bottrill, John Leckie
    Publisher Mushroom
    Format(s) CD
    Catalogue № MUSE 13
    Release date Unknown
    Chart position Unknown
    {{{Type}}} chronology
    Interview Promo



    A promo CD featuring an interview with the band.

    Track list

    1. Introduction...
    2. Have you always been deadly serious about music...
    3. Answer
    4. You were very young when you first got together...
    5. Answer
    6. Growing up in a rural area...
    7. Answer
    8. First gig together...
    9. Answer
    10. Do you remember any of the songs you played...
    11. Answer
    12. When were Muse born...
    13. Answer
    14. Who came up with the name Muse...
    15. Answer
    16. Doggy names...
    17. Answer
    18. Is this the perfect line up...
    19. Answer
    20. America happened first...
    21. Answer
    22. States for the first time...
    23. Answer
    24. Madonna...
    25. Answer
    26. Different record deals in different places...
    27. Answer
    28. Does it not get complicated...
    29. Answer
    30. Hell for release schedules...
    31. Answer
    32. Two independent EPs...
    33. Answer
    34. Glorified demos...
    35. Answer
    36. John Leckie...
    37. Answer
    38. Dave Bottrill...
    39. Answer
    40. The second album...
    41. Answer
    42. Different locations for recording...
    43. Answer
    44. Touring with Foo Fighters & Chili Peppers...
    45. Answer
    46. Felt like rock stars...
    47. Answer
    48. Did you get on well with bands...
    49. Answer
    50. How did you go down...
    51. Answer
    52. Do you feel part of some sort of scene...
    53. Answer
    54. A particularly English sound...
    55. Answer
    56. T in the Park...
    57. Answer
    58. Festival crowds...
    59. Answer
    60. Hectic schedule...
    61. Answer
    62. End of tour...
    63. Answer
    64. All over the world again...
    65. Answer
    66. Separate reality from fantasy...
    67. Answer
    68. You've known each other for so long...
    69. Answer
    70. How Spinal Tap has it got...
    71. Answer

    References

    1. ↑ a b Origin of symmetry released (2001-06-16). MicroCuts. Retrieved from microcuts.net.
    2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Muse: The Making of Origin of Symmetry (2007-10-07). Xfm. Retrieved from www.muselive.com. [verify]
    3. ↑ NME - Vengeance is ours! [November 2001]
    4. ↑ Rock Sound Spain 31/07/01
    5. ↑ Muse talk about new album (2001-02-15). MicroCuts. Retrieved from microcuts.net.
    6. ↑ Next album (2000-07-19). MicroCuts. Retrieved from microcuts.net.
    7. ↑ Rock Sound Spain 31/07/01

    See also


    Go back to discography

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