U (Tourist album)

U is the debut studio album by English electronic music producer Tourist, released on 6 May 2016 through Monday Records. The album received positive reviews from critics and reached the top 40 of the albums chart in Australia.

U
Studio album by Tourist
Released	6 May 2016 (2016-05-06)
Genre	Electronic[1]
Length	43:26
Label	Monday
Producer	Tourist
Tourist chronology
Patterns (2014) U (2016) Everyday (2019)

Background

The album was inspired by the end of a four-year relationship that Tourist had been in.^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	78/100[3]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Line of Best Fit	7/10[1]
Mixmag	8/10[4]

U received a score of 78 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.^[3] Paul Simpson of AllMusic found that Tourist "sticks with chopped-up vocal samples, resisting the straightforward pop route that Disclosure traveled on their full-lengths", and remarked that there is "certainly no shortage of gloomy British post-dubstep, but Phillips' work seems to have more of a purpose than just being mopey. His tracks are detailed and subtle, but also kind of perky".^[2] Q opined that "the mix is full of voices, all snipped up in fragments or rendered as blurred tones. The results lends his exquisite productions a haunting emotional resonance".^[3]

Grant Rindner of The Line of Best Fit called U "an intricate, melancholic and exceptionally well made LP" and felt that Tourist "has a deft touch and gift for melody, making U one of the more engaging electronic debuts we've seen this year".^[1] Mixmag's Ben Jolley concluded that the album "pieces together a narrative that reflects on a past relationship; sculpting electronica, garage and piano together effortlessly".^[4]

Track listing

U track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"U"	3:57
2.	"To Have You Back"	4:34
3.	"Run"	5:59
4.	"Wait"	5:02
5.	"My Love (Interlude)"	2:19
6.	"Waves"	6:11
7.	"Too Late"	4:27
8.	"Foolish"	4:03
9.	"Separate Ways"	3:09
10.	"For Sarah"	3:45
Total length:		43:26

All tracks are written by William Phillips.

Personnel

• William Phillips – producer, composition, recording
• Dan Parry – mixing
• Jacob Robinson – artwork
• LT Griffiths – artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Tourist

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[5]	39
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[6]	148
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[7]	51
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[8]	10
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[9]	28

References

1. Rindner, Grant (6 May 2016). "Tourist, we like U". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
2. Simpson, Paul. "Tourist – U Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
3. "U by Tourist Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
4. Jolley, Ben (6 May 2016). "Tourist – Reviews". Mixmag. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
5. "Australiancharts.com – Tourist – U". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
6. "Ultratop.be – Tourist – U" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
7. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
8. "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
9. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 October 2023.