Editing Smoke & Mirrors (The Fizz album)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Smoke & Mirrors
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[The Fizz]]
| cover      = Smoke & Mirrors (The Fizz album).jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 6 March 2020
| recorded   = June 2018 – September 2019
| studio     = MPG, [[Surrey]]
| genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length     = 38:00
| label      = MPG
| producer   = [[Mike Stock (musician)|Mike Stock]], Jimmy Junior
| prev_title = [[Christmas with the Fizz]]
| prev_year  = 2018
| next_title = [[Everything Under the Sun (The Fizz album)|Everything Under the Sun]]
| next_year  = 2022
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = The Fizz
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = Winning Ways
 | single1date = January 2020
 | single2     = TOTP
 | single2date = February 2020
 | single3     = From Here to Eternity
 | single3date = April 2020
 | single4     = The World We Left Behind
 | single4date = July 2020
}}
}}

'''''Smoke & Mirrors''''' is a 2020 studio album by [[The Fizz]], formerly known as [[Bucks Fizz]]. It is the third album by the group under the name The Fizz and the second as a threesome consisting of original members [[Cheryl Baker]], [[Mike Nolan (singer)|Mike Nolan]] and [[Jay Aston]]. Released on 6 March 2020, the album entered the overall [[UK Albums Chart]] at No. 29, the UK Album Sales Chart at No. 6, the [[Official Vinyl Albums Chart]] at No. 5<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/20200313/9/|title=Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 &#124; Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|access-date=2020-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327132007/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/20200313/9/|archive-date=2020-03-27|url-status=live}}</ref> and the UK Independent Albums Chart at No. 3. The sales chart position of No. 6 is the highest entry for any previous Bucks Fizz/the Fizz albums.

== Background ==
After the success of the group's comeback album ''[[The F-Z of Pop]]'', which made the group return to the UK charts for the first time in 31 years, talks immediately began for a follow up album with producer [[Mike Stock (musician)|Mike Stock]]. Whilst ''The F–Z of Pop'' contained three re-recordings of past Bucks Fizz hits as well as eight new compositions, it was agreed that moving forward made the group would now focus solely on new material. The group went back into the studio in summer 2018 to begin recording for the new album. Fairly early on into the recording process [[Jay Aston]] was diagnosed with mouth cancer and would require surgery and extensive treatment. During this time it had also been discussed to bring forward the plans for a Christmas album. Production quickly began to allow the producers to record all of Aston's vocal parts for the release before she had to undergo the surgery which would leave her unable to sing for the foreseeable future.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/bucks-fizz-star-jay-aston-12861448|title=Bucks Fizz star recording album ahead of cancer op which could stop her singing|first=Tom|last=Bryant|date=July 5, 2018|website=mirror|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327133609/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/bucks-fizz-star-jay-aston-12861448|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/bucks-fizz-star-jay-aston-13161110|title=Bucks Fizz star Jay Aston shares devastating side-effect of mouth cancer surgery|first=Emily|last=Retter|date=August 29, 2018|website=mirror|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327132008/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/bucks-fizz-star-jay-aston-13161110|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The tracks were then finished with Baker and Nolan providing all the backing vocals for 15 songs which would become ''[[Christmas with the Fizz]]''.<ref name="auto2" />

In 2019, plans were made for The Fizz to return back in the studio to finish recording the album now that Aston had recovered sufficiently to begin singing again. It also gave her the chance to complete her lead vocal on the track "From Here to Eternity", which she had recorded a guide vocal for on the day she received her cancer diagnosis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/bucks-fizz-star-jay-aston-21619167|title=Bucks Fizz broke down in tears singing song same day Jay diagnosed with cancer|date=March 2, 2020|website=mirror|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303173526/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/bucks-fizz-star-jay-aston-21619167|archive-date=March 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Recording of ''Smoke & Mirrors'' was completed in September 2019, it was mastered at [[Metropolis Group|Metropolis]], London and scheduled for release in the new year to avoid the Christmas market. The album went on pre-sale on 10 January 2020 with the instant grat-track "The World We Left Behind" available immediately with pre-orders. The album was available on limited edition blue vinyl as well as the standard black vinyl, CD and limited edition cassette tape.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/musicnews/fizz-announce-new-album-1224467.html|title=The Fizz announce new album|date=January 10, 2020|website=www.femalefirst.co.uk|access-date=2020-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327162645/https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/musicnews/fizz-announce-new-album-1224467.html|archive-date=2020-03-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 30 January 2020, "Winning Ways" was released from the album, debuting with [[BBC Radio 2]] exclusive. The video premiered the next day on the Bucks Fizz [[VEVO]] channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://essentiallypop.com/epop/2020/02/the-fizz-set-to-release-their-brand-new-album-smoke-and-mirrors-on-march-6th/|title=The Fizz Set to Release Their Brand New Album 'Smoke and Mirrors' on March 6th!|first=Emma|last=Mages|date=February 26, 2020|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327132016/https://essentiallypop.com/epop/2020/02/the-fizz-set-to-release-their-brand-new-album-smoke-and-mirrors-on-march-6th/|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 February the track "T.O.T.P." was released with an accompanying music video which pays comedic homage to the BBC show ''[[Top of the Pops]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/The-Fizz-Reveal-Video-for-Top-Of-The-Pops-Spoof-for-New-Single-TOTP-20200302|title=The Fizz Reveal Video for 'Top Of The Pops' Spoof for New Single 'T.O.T.P'|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2020-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327132007/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/The-Fizz-Reveal-Video-for-Top-Of-The-Pops-Spoof-for-New-Single-TOTP-20200302|archive-date=2020-03-27|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 6 March 2020, the album was released and entered the overall [[Official Albums Chart]] at No.29, the UK Sales Chart at No.6, the UK Vinyl Chart at No.5 and the Independent Chart at No.3.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-sales-chart/20200313/7511/|title=Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100 &#124; Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|access-date=2020-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327132010/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-sales-chart/20200313/7511/|archive-date=2020-03-27|url-status=live}}</ref>  The album also ranked the No.6 position on the Official Scottish Album Charts.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20200313/40/|title=Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 &#124; Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202505/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20200313/40/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the album ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop Magazine]]'' said that "The Fizz are back firing on all cylinders with Smoke & Mirrors – an album of shiny new pop bangers, the latest fruit of a fertile collaboration with legendary hitmaker Mike Stock". Commenting on the songs, they said that "All We Ever Can Do" and "Boomerang" illustrate the group's "extraordinary resilience", while "The World We Left Behind" sees them "laying to rest a few old ghosts".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-30|title=Sing when you're winning: The Fizz interview|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2020/07/sing-when-youre-winning-the-fizz-interview/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Classic Pop Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808061646/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2020/07/sing-when-youre-winning-the-fizz-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Track listing ==
All songs written by [[Mike Stock (musician)|Mike Stock]] and Johan Kalel, except where indicated.
# "Winning Ways" – 2:45
# "All We Ever Can Do" – 4:05
# "T.O.T.P." – 3:02
# "From Here to Eternity" (Stock, [[Matt Aitken]]) – 3:20
# "More than These Words" – 3:29
# "Reservation" – 3:32
# "The World We Left Behind" – 3:54
# "Nothing's Gonna Last Forever" – 3:25
# "Second to None" – 3:39
# "Storm" (Kalel, Kyla Stroud) – 3:45
# "Boomerang" ([[Jay Aston]]) – 3:04

== Personnel ==
* [[Cheryl Baker]] – vocals
* [[Jay Aston]] – vocals, album artistic director
* [[Mike Nolan (singer)|Mike Nolan]] – vocals
* [[Mike Stock (musician)|Mike Stock]] – producer, instruments
* Jimmy Junior – producer, instruments
* Big Eared Boys – mixers
* Dave Colquhoun – guitar on tracks 1 and 2
* Chris Lyndon – engineer
* Joseph Sinclair – photography
* Jay Aston – album design
* MPG – artwork and layout

== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for ''Smoke & Mirrors''
!scope="col"|Chart (2020)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|6|date=20200313|rowheader=true|access-date=6 May 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|29|date=20200313|rowheader=true|access-date=6 May 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|UKIndependent|3|date=20200313|rowheader=true|access-date=6 May 2024}}
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Bucks Fizz}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Smoke and Mirrors}}
[[Category:2020 albums]]
[[Category:The Fizz albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Mike Stock (musician)]]