MUSIC NEWS - The Fleet Foxes' J. TILLMAN brings us his new, Year in the Kingdom
(out via Western Vinyl) release and unravels some kind of galactic wilderness. Tillman's 6th album lyrically borders on mystic; proffering a transcendent union, an effortlessness. Strange and honest, this song cycle inhabits it's own idea-scape; one seemingly obsessed with wrestling death. These are afterlife dialogues of a mysterious future. Celestial badlands.
Unknown to just about everyone, Tillman began recording in April, tracking most of the instruments during the two week session himself. Hammered dulcimer, banjo, recorder, cymbals of varying size and wheezing air organs all feature heavily and lend YiTK it's bizarre scale, conjuring tidal shifts with tiny movements. The string arrangements, performed by Jenna Conrad, as well as transposed from Tillman's sung direction, were intended to rest on chords almost counter-intuitively, bringing to bloom complex, decontextualized tones. Most noticeable from first listen is the production itself. While most of Tillman's records evidence some shambolic home recording, YiTK is undisturbed throughout. Out up front of the mix, and dry as a bone, Tillman's voice is featured in a way unlike any of his previous records.
(out via Western Vinyl) release and unravels some kind of galactic wilderness. Tillman's 6th album lyrically borders on mystic; proffering a transcendent union, an effortlessness. Strange and honest, this song cycle inhabits it's own idea-scape; one seemingly obsessed with wrestling death. These are afterlife dialogues of a mysterious future. Celestial badlands.Unknown to just about everyone, Tillman began recording in April, tracking most of the instruments during the two week session himself. Hammered dulcimer, banjo, recorder, cymbals of varying size and wheezing air organs all feature heavily and lend YiTK it's bizarre scale, conjuring tidal shifts with tiny movements. The string arrangements, performed by Jenna Conrad, as well as transposed from Tillman's sung direction, were intended to rest on chords almost counter-intuitively, bringing to bloom complex, decontextualized tones. Most noticeable from first listen is the production itself. While most of Tillman's records evidence some shambolic home recording, YiTK is undisturbed throughout. Out up front of the mix, and dry as a bone, Tillman's voice is featured in a way unlike any of his previous records.
YiTK sounds liberated; it is far and away Tillman's most joyful work. Created with little input or context, it is seemingly disinterested in communicating much else than a meditation for the few who allow themselves to listen with an open heart.
See Tillman live as well;
J TILLMAN USA November - December 2009 Tour Itinerary-
November
3 - Neurolux - Boise, ID
05 - The Aquarium - Fargo, ND
6 - Music Box Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
07 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
08 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
10 - The Pike Room at the Crofoot - Pontiac, MI
11 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON
12 - Il Motore - Montreal, QB
13 - Space - Portland, ME
15 - Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, MA
16 - The Bell House - Brooklyn, NY
17 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
18 - 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
19 - UVA Chapel - Charlotesville, NC
20 - Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
21 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
23 - The Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
24 - One Eyed Jack's - New Orleans, LA
26 - Walter's on Washington - Houston, TX
27 - The Mohawk - Austin, TX
28 - Hailey's - Denton, TX
30 - Modified - Phoenix, AZ
05 - The Aquarium - Fargo, ND
6 - Music Box Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
07 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
08 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
10 - The Pike Room at the Crofoot - Pontiac, MI
11 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON
12 - Il Motore - Montreal, QB
13 - Space - Portland, ME
15 - Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, MA
16 - The Bell House - Brooklyn, NY
17 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
18 - 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
19 - UVA Chapel - Charlotesville, NC
20 - Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
21 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
23 - The Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
24 - One Eyed Jack's - New Orleans, LA
26 - Walter's on Washington - Houston, TX
27 - The Mohawk - Austin, TX
28 - Hailey's - Denton, TX
30 - Modified - Phoenix, AZ
DECEMBER
1 - Casbah - San Diego, CA
1 - Casbah - San Diego, CA
2 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
4 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
10 - The Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC
11 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
12 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
4 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
10 - The Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC
11 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
12 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
YEAR IN THE KINGDOM Tracklisting-
Crosswinds
Earthly Bodies
Howling Light
Though I Have Wronged You
Age Of Man
There Is No Good In Me
Marked In The Valley
Light Of The Living
Comments