Propane Nightmares

Infobox Single |
Name = Propane Nightmares


Artist = Pendulum
Album = In Silico
Released = flagicon|Australia 12 April 2008
flagicon|UK 21 April 2008
Format = 12", CD, download
Recorded = 2007–2008
Genre = Drum and bass, alternative
Length = 5:13 (album version)
4:19 (radio edit)
Label = Warner Music UK
Writer = Rob Swire, Bernd Burhoff, Oliver Froning, Jens Oettrich
Producer = Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen
Last single = "Granite"
(2007)
This single = "Propane Nightmares"
(2008)
Next single = "The Other Side"
(2008)
Misc = Extra musicsample | Type=single | filename=Pendulum_-_Propane_Nightmares.ogg | format=Ogg | title=Propane Nightmares External music video | 1= [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPbeEtjo70g "Propane Nightmares"] at YouTube

"Propane Nightmares" is the second single from Australian drum and bass band Pendulum's second album "In Silico". It incorporates elements of the song "Million Miles From Home" by German techno band Dune. [http://www.discogs.com/release/1340627 "Propane Nightmares" (12")] . Discogs. Retrieved 15 June 2008.] The song has been remixed by popular artist Celldweller and Australian electropop group Van She. It has received significant airplay on BBC Radio 1, being played frequently by DJ Zane Lowe.

The song was released exclusively for download on 12 April 2008 in Australia and New Zealand, where Pendulum were on tour at the time. [ [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=277503734&s=143460 "Pendulum - Propane Nightmares - Single"] . Australian iTunes Store. Retrieved 24 June 2008.] It was later released globally for download on 21 April, and on physical formats on 28 April. [ Pendulum MySpace blog. Retrieved 8 July 2008.] The song reached number sixteen in the UK charts on 27 April based on downloads alone, and on 4 May the song reached number nine, making it Pendulum's biggest UK hit to date. [http://acharts.us/song/35194 "Pendulum - Propane Nightmares"] . acharts.us. Retrieved 18 June 2008.] It will also serve as the official theme song of WWE Cyber Sunday 2008.

Critical reception

"Propane Nightmares" has received mixed reviews from music critics, mostly as a result of the change in style compared to older tracks produced by Pendulum. Some reviewers praised the new direction that the band had taken, for example Gerard McGarry wrote, in an article for Unreality Music, that Pendulum "have created an epic song that - for our money - fuses their penchant for dance and rock music beautifully". [McGarry, Gerard. [http://music.unrealitytv.co.uk/pendulum-propane-nightmares-single-review/ "Propane Nightmares - Single Review"] . Unreality Music. Retrieved 17 June 2008] Jo-Ann Greene of Allmusic described the song as "another sizzling single" in her review of "In Silico", [Greene, Jo-Ann. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hvfixzujldte "In Silico" Overview"] . Allmusic. Retrieved 17 June 2008.] while Fiona McGlynn wrote that "...Propane Nightmares is a fresh take on a merge of genres that actually works", in her single review for the Manchester Evening News. [McGlynn, Fiona. [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/single_reviews/s/1046130_pendulum__propane_nightmares_wea "Pendulum - Propane Nightmares (WEA)"] . Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 July 2008.]

The track also received some criticism, mostly derived from Pendulum's migration from drum and bass to a more rock-imbued sound. In his review for AngryApe, Tim Johnson pointed out that "the problem... lies in Pendulum trying to cram too much into one space... almost like two or three different songs being played on top of one another". [Johnson, Tim. [http://angryape.com/reviews/2008/04/23/pendulum-propane-nightmares "Pendulum - Propane Nightmares WEA] . AngryApe. Retrieved 17 June 2008.] Simon Catling went further, writing an open letter in the webzine God Is In The TV to Pendulum asking them to "decide whether [they] wish to be a band or a drum n’ bass act" and commenting that "at the moment all [they're] providing us with is a horribly half-baked and shoddy form of neither". [Catling, Simon Jay. [http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=2399&type=Singles "Pendulum - Propane Nightmares"] . God Is In The TV. Retrieved 17 June 2008.]

On 22 July 2008, it was announced that "Propane Nightmares" had been nominated for Best Single at the Kerrang! Awards 2008 ceremony, alongside singles from four other rock bands. [Lane, Daniel. [http://blog.kerrangawards.com/2008/2008/07/and_the_nominees_are.html And the nominees are...] . Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 July 2008.] The ceremony was held on 21 August, and Pendulum lost to 30 Seconds to Mars who took Best Single with their song "From Yesterday". [Lane, Daniel. [http://blog.kerrangawards.com/2008/2008/08/best_single_winner.html Best Single winner] . Kerrang!. Retrieved 28 August 2008.]

Music video

A music video was also produced themed around a religious cult closely resembling Heaven's Gate, in particular depicting the mass suicide of members of a cult by poison after first drinking citric juices. Several scenes of Pendulum performing before the cult are intercut in the middle of the video, which otherwise focuses primarily on two members who attempt to flee during the mass suicide.

The video was originally uploaded to the band's YouTube channel as early as 27 March 2008 to help promote the single. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPbeEtjo70g Propane Nightmares - Official Video] . Pendulum YouTube channel. Retrieved 15 August 2008.] It was later released for download in May, most notably through the digital media delivery service Xbox Live, which allowed all users to download the video freely. [ [http://www.xbox.com/en-gb/news-features/news/pendulum-30042008.htm "Xbox Live Presents: Pendulum"] . Xbox.com. Retrieved 15 June 2008.] It was also included on the special edition and iTunes bonus tracks versions of "In Silico", the album from which the song was originally taken.

Chart performance

"Propane Nightmares" entered the UK Singles Chart on 27 April 2008 at number sixteen based on downloads alone, already making it Pendulum's biggest hit to date. After the release of physical formats during the following week, the song peaked at number nine on 4 May. "Propane Nightmares" also reached the top forty in the World Singles and Airplay World charts, and the top 100 in the Europe Official singles chart. [http://top40-charts.com/songs/full.php?sid=23414&sort=chartid "Pendulum Propane Nightmares"] . top40-charts.com. Retrieved 18 June 2008.]

Formats and track listings

These are the major formats and associated track listings of single releases of "Propane Nightmares".

12" vinyl single
(WEA445T; released 28 April 2008):A. "Propane Nightmares" – 5:13:B. "Propane Nightmares" (V.I.P. remix) – 5:22

CD single [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/1405182 "Propane Nightmares" (CD, Single)] . Discogs. Retrieved 24 July 2008.]
(WEA445CD; released 28 April 2008)
#"Propane Nightmares" (radio edit) – 4:19
#"Propane Nightmares" (original version) – 5:13

Digital EP [ [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=278765164&s=143444 "Pendulum - Propane Nightmares - EP"] . UK iTunes Store. Retrieved 15 June 2008.] [ [http://www.7digital.com/artists/pendulum/propane-nightmares-(2)/ Pendulum - Propane Nightmares MP3 Downloads] . 7digital. Retrieved 30 July 2008.]
(iTunes Store, 7digital; released 18 April 2008)
#"Propane Nightmares" – 5:13
#"Propane Nightmares" (V.I.P. remix) – 5:22
#"Propane Nightmares" (VST remix) – 4:48

Promo CD single [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/1329584 "Propane Nightmares" (CDr, Single, Promo)] . Discogs. Retrieved 15 June 2008.]

#"Propane Nightmares" (Celldweller remix) – 5:36
#"Propane Nightmares" (VST remix) – 4:48

Personnel

The following people contributed to "Propane Nightmares". [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/1346158 "In Silico" (CD, Album)] . Discogs. Retrieved 9 July 2008.]
*Rob Swire – vocals, synthesiser, bass, mixing
*Perry Ap Gwynedd – guitar
*Paul Kodish – drums
*Ben Verse – MC
*Andy Wood – trombone
*Andy Greenwood – trumpet
*Craig Wild – trumpet
*Simon Askew – mixing
*John Davis – mastering

Notes