Andy Cotton - bass
Matt Ray - Piano
Katie Scheele - Oboe/English Horn
Michael Leonhart - Trumpet, Mallets, Tabla, Keyboards
Jamie Leonhart - Voice
Marc Dalio - Percussion
Paul Brill - songs
Paul Brill, forward-looking creator of 2004's critically-acclaimed New Pagan Love Song, released his new LP, Harpooner, on his own Scarlet Shame Records this past winter. His most searing artistic statement to date, Harpooner marks the end of Brill's Americana tinges and a full embrace of the intense musical collages he began on NPLS. It's a stunning, challenging, and edgy piece of work, marking the welcome return of one of songwriterdoms most independent and progressive artists.
NYC Native Paul Brill first began writing songs in northern Vermont, wood-shedding and 4-tracking while holed-up in a bleak, rustic cabin. After a few light-deprived winters, Paul sold his belongings and fled for sunny western shores, dabbling in brief stints as an herbal smokes salesman, street performer, valet, corporate errand boy, and marine biology instructor. From his western base, Paul performed extensively across the U.S. and Canada and was soon lured home to NYC, his compositions similarly taking striking new turns.
Brill's first releases, including the well-received Sisters EP and LP combo, were vulnerable and plaintive twang-kissed affairs that showcased a thoughtful songwriting presence. New Pagan Love Song, which merged earlier works acoustic elements with found sounds, samples, and bent beats, avoided a number of the clichés and self-indulgent foibles of the acoustic guitar-meets-electronics crowd. It was a record made by a songwriter genuinely interested in the possibilities of electronic experiments in songwriting. It was an album of comfortable melancholy that took critics by storm.
Harpooner continues further down that path, incorporating heavy-duty cut-and-paste collage elements for a work that comes off like a fever dream. It's a song of reckoning, a last gasp. It's nine tales regard plague, mental illness, misanthropy, and much salt water. In this thoroughly dismantled pop record, Brill collages found sounds, jigsaw beats, and damaged vocals into a work of boxed-in desperation. The acoustic guitar only rears its head now and again and songs are often driven by off-kilter percussion and samples more than anything. Even Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) stops by to lend his unique bass expertise! The record represents a significant step forward for Brill's sonic architecture, exploring further the unexpected collision between organic and electronic sound he first touched upon on NPLS.
Paul recently shot a video for the Harpooner track, "Dont Tell Them." The video was directed by Barney Miller, who has worked with Kanye West, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Gillian Welch. Also directing a video for Paul was animator Joel Trussell, known for his outstanding work on Jason Forrest's War Photographer video. Speaking of Forrest, for Harpooner's first single (and arguably poppiest song), Paris Is On, Brill has enlisted the help of insane electronic artist Jason Forrest to remix the song, yielding some interesting results. Paul is assembling further remixes of the song at the moment.
In addition to writing and recording songs for his own albums, Paul has also composed music for several films, the theme for a NPR program, TV pilots, and various network TV commercials. Paul’s original score for the award-winning HBO feature documentary, The Trials of Darryl Hunt, was hailed by Variety as “memorably chilling, sounding notes of purest dread.” New films scored by Paul Brill include: “The Devil Came on Horseback,” “Pindemonium,” “2K3,” and “Kaleidoscope.” This summer, Young American Recordings will release his soundtrack to “The Trials of Darryl Hunt.” Further recognition for Paul’s work includes First Place for in the 2004 International Songwriting Competition.
What's up paul! Thanks for the love and support. We just wanted to remind you that our exclusive EP Let Go is coming out TUESDAY. Pre-order it now and we'll hook you up with a bonus gift
I really like your music. It's coming so clearly from your life experience. But who cares if you don't like the music right? But I love your music. I hate to use the word special, but you have something special. I was listening very carefully to your song, "Don't Tell Her", is that the title? Maybe tell her a little so she doesn't leave :) But you're right: not too much:) Stop by and say hello. Welcome to my community of musicians! Hey, I like when they come by and comment and tell me nice things!:) Seeee! Tell them a little... :)
Awwww, nobody has loved you since me...well spread the word cuz this CD BABY has got the music in his bones...thanks Paul... wish you would come to Jax area..mmmm..hmmm...
Hi! I really like your songs. Then, in case anyone here is curious of the French pop-folk scene, I wanted to tell you that I will play at Sidewalk Café (94 av. A, Manhattan) next tuesday at 11 pm. xxx Isabelle
Chelsea (12 years old) performs Beethoven and Chopin at a church. Different musicians got together to share each others talents. It’s normally called a shed. Chelsea thought it was comical to hear other musicians reacting to her performance. Check it out.
hello..
being a fan of Rufus Wainwright, we thought you may like this video to Anus Dei we've put together featuring Dali's 'Destino' animation:
Rufus Wainwright "Agnus Dei" FULL VERSION
Hey Hows it going ? Its been hectic here with the new album coming out. You can get your free download of Constant Dream on Christmas Day by signing up now to our mailing list at www. bensem. com
