The Pineapple Thief Bring a Live-First Approach to Far And Wide
Far And Wide reaches its October 9 release date. Bruce Soord explains why The Pineapple Thief limited studio layers to music they could take on stage.
The Pineapple Thief’s Far And Wide reaches its October 9 release date with a deceptively simple production idea: make the studio arrangements work on stage.
In an October 7 Loudwire Nights interview with Chuck Armstrong, Bruce Soord described cutting studio layers so the band could perform the arrangements on stage. He said that approach left more space for keyboards, bass and guitar, while asking more of each individual part.
What a live-first arrangement asks of a guitarist
It is a useful challenge for anyone arranging a song with a band. If another overdub is unavailable, does the guitar need to carry the melody, supply the rhythm or step aside for another instrument? Changing that responsibility can matter as much as adding another sound.
The approach also offers listeners something specific to follow: the handovers between instruments. Notice who fills a gap and who leaves one, then consider how those decisions would work in a room with other musicians. Far And Wide is a studio album; its stage-minded premise is the point of comparison.
Formats and the road ahead
Sony’s official listing identifies nine tracks and several editions: LP, CD, digital, and a limited 2CD/Blu-ray artbook. The artbook adds a bonus track and an instrumental disc, with Atmos, 5.1 surround and 24-bit stereo files on Blu-ray. Those extras distinguish the edition from the standard album.
The live-first approach will also have a stage context: promoter FKP Scorpio has announced six German shows for April 2027 as part of the Far And Wide European tour.
Photo: Martin Bostock / supplied by FKP Scorpio via Prime Entertainment. Image source.