{{Short description|1995 single by the Shamen}} {{Infobox song | name = Destination Eschaton | cover = The_Shamen-Destination_Eschaton.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = the Shamen | album = Axis Mutatis | released = {{start date|1995|8|7|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Techno<ref name="baltin">{{cite magazine|first=Steve|last=Baltin|title=Pop Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1995/CB-1995-10-07.pdf|work=Cash Box|date=7 October 1995|page=7|accessdate=8 November 2022}}</ref> | length = 3:55 | label = One Little Indian | writer = * Colin Angus * Richard West | producer = The Shamen | prev_title = Phorever People | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = Transamazonia | next_year = 1995 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|wDX4mhD3nAg|"Destination Eschaton"}}}} }}
"'''Destination Eschaton'''" is a song recorded by Scottish band the Shamen, released in August 1995, by One Little Indian, as the first single from the band's sixth album, ''Axis Mutatis'' (1995). The song was written by Colin Angus and Richard West, and features vocals by American guest vocalist Victoria Wilson James. It was a hit in several countries in Europe, peaking within the top 10 in Finland and Scotland. In the United States, "Destination Eschaton" reached number 14 on the ''Billboard'' Dance Club Play chart. A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by German director Nico Beyer and William Latham, featuring the band performing aboard a spaceship.
==Critical reception== In his review of ''Axis Mutatis'', John Bush from AllMusic complimented the song as "enjoyable".<ref>{{cite web|first= John |last= Bush |title= The Shamen – ''Axis Mutatis'' |publisher= AllMusic |accessdate= 4 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/axis-mutatis-mw0000178386}}</ref> Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' magazine named it "one of the act's better efforts."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: Moorish Crosses Gender Barriers With 'I'm Your Man' |magazine= Billboard |date= 2 September 1995 |page= 30 |accessdate= 13 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-09-02.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref> Steve Baltin from ''Cash Box'' described it as "a futuristic, fast-paced techno assault on the ears." He added, "The Shamen have already set themselves up as hit makers in the clubs, this new single should enjoy similar dance/club success. Particularly impressive is the enunciation they give to the vocals, showing that techno is not just about the beat, but words, as well. However, in this case, the beat is the star."<ref name="baltin"/> In his weekly UK chart commentary in ''Dotmusic'', James Masterton viewed it as "a well made single".<ref>{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending August 19th 1995|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1995/week-ending-august-19th-1995|website=Chart Watch UK|date=13 August 1995|accessdate=22 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}}</ref>
British-based music and entertainment retailer HMV named it Single of the Week.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53526309992/|title=HMV Single of the Week|work=NME|date=12 August 1995|page=39|access-date=19 March 2024}}</ref> Paul Lester from ''Melody Maker'' wrote, "It sounded like a compelling piece of commercial techno, and it felt good to have Colin Angus, an intelligent pop star and a decent human being to boot, back in the charts."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Lester|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53543619196/|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=26 August 1995|page=36|access-date=11 March 2024|author-link=Paul Lester}}</ref> A reviewer from ''Music & Media'' commented, "Very misleading—it's not as instantly catchy as their past singles, but rest assured memorability will grow with each spin. The Shamen remain on the top as the most melodic dance outfit."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-09-02.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=35|date=2 September 1995|page=11|accessdate=24 September 2020}}</ref> Mark Sutherland from ''NME'' said, "Well, they kick of with another ''E's are good-type number''", opining that "the drug-addled witterings on 'Destination Eschaton' weren't even blatant enough for a ''Daily Mirror'' story, let alone a Top Ten hit."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Sutherland|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53581608276/|title=Long Play|magazine=NME|date=28 October 1995|page=54|access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref> Garry Mulholland from ''Select'' wrote that "it sounds like every other 'Take You Higher' anthem, times ten."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Garry|last=Mulholland|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2013/01/newalbums.jpg|title=New Albums|work=Select|date=October 1995|page=|access-date=14 December 2024}}</ref>
==Track listings== * '''CD single, UK and France''' # "Destination Eschaton" (Beatmasters 7-inch) — 3:55 # "Destination Eschaton" (Destination Islington) (Shamen Deep Melodic Techno Mix) — 6:40
* '''CD single, US''' # "Destination Eschaton" (Album Version) — 3:55 # "Destination Eschaton" (Vission Lorimer Dome Mix) — 4:16 # "Destination Eschaton" (Hardfloor 12-inch Vocal – Destination Krefeldton) — 7:25 # "Destination Eschaton" (Shamen Deep Melodic Techno Mix – Destination Islington) — 6:40 # "Destination Eschaton" (Sounds of Life Vocal Mix) — 6:47
* '''CD maxi, Europe''' # "Destination Eschaton" (Destination Nemeton original version) — 6:47 # "Destination Eschaton" (Shamen Deep Melodic Techno Mix) (Destination Islington) — 6:40 # "Destination Eschaton" (Shamen Acid) (Escacid) — 5:55 # "Destination Eschaton" (Hardfloor Vocal) (Destination Krefeldton) — 7:25 # "Destination Eschaton" (Hardfloor Instrumental) (Destination Komotion) — 7:22
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1995) !Peak<br>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite Ryan|page=250}}</ref> | 92 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-08-26.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=34|date=26 August 1995|page=12|accessdate=24 September 2020}}</ref> | 60 |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=European Dance Radio Top 25|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-09-09.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=36|date=9 September 1995|page=12|accessdate=25 April 2023}}</ref> | 3 |- !scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref name="Book">{{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= fi |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki}}</ref> | 6 |- !scope="row"|Lithuania (M-1)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m-1.fm/top40/?topid=1326|title=M-1 Top 40|publisher=M-1.fm|access-date=28 March 2022|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105653/http://m-1.fm/top40/?topid=1326|date=27 August 1995|archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> | 37 |- !scope="row"|Scotland (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950813/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 13 August 1995 – 19 August 1995|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=23 September 2020}}</ref> | 9 |- {{singlechart|Sweden|26|artist=Shamen|song=Destination Eschaton|rowheader=true|accessdate=23 September 2020}} |- !scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19950813/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 13 August 1995 – 19 August 1995|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=23 September 2020}}</ref> | 15 |- !scope="row"|UK Airplay (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-09-02.pdf|title=Top 50 Airplay Hits|magazine=Music Week|date=2 September 1995|page=17|access-date=6 December 2025}}</ref> | 25 |- !scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-11-11.pdf#page=30|title=Hot Dance Music: Club Play|magazine=Billboard|date=11 November 1995|page=32|access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref> | 14 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1995) !Position |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-12-23.pdf|title=1995 in Review: European Dance Radio 1995|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=51/52|page=23|date=23 December 1995|access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref> | 12 |} {{col-end}}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |7 August 1995 |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |One Little Indian |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=5 August 1995}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |11 September 1995 |Dance Pool |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – Product Available from : 11/09/95: Singles|magazine=The ARIA Report|issue=291|page=18|date=10 September 1995}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United States |19 September 1995 |Contemporary hit radio |Epic |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Selected New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1112|page=35|date=15 September 1995}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{The Shamen}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1995 singles Category:1995 songs Category:Dance Pool singles Category:Epic Records singles Category:Music videos directed by Nico Beyer Category:One Little Independent Records singles Category:The Shamen songs