Listen: Lost in the Trees - "Lady in White"

I have no idea what it is but Lost in the Trees' Ari Picker has a talent for just creating these arresting knee-jerk emotional reactions in his music. It's a skill that in all honesty I thought will dull over time and find myself surprised and elated that Picker's compositions are still so emotional effective. I guess I'm also surprised at short amount of time between releases it takes him to create these completely sincere, visceral pieces.

Coming off the immensely powerful A Church That Fits Our Needs - a musical tribute to Picker's deceased and troubled mother, you'd think "Lady in White" would be lighter, if not more fun. Not even close. While easing up slightly on Picker's ability to reduce you to tears, it still finds that elegant balance between mournful beauty and forward moving slice of pop. Based mostly on piano and Picker's doleful tenor, it's the rare Lost in the Trees track that reduces its string arrangements to ornamental flourishes for the sake of maintaining a sense of an otherworldly aura. It's artfully done like just about every other thing Lost in the Trees do.

Listen to the one-off gem "Lady in White":

Sean Rowe - "Horses"

It hasn't been that long since I've been introduced to singer/songwriter Sean Rowe. In fact the song that reminded me about him is one of his most recent. Next month Rowe will put out the follow up to his ANTI- debut Magic, The Salesman and the Shark and new track "Horses" certainly shows that Rowe's been up to a little something something. 

A sort of daring, ominous plodding is pretty much the defining sound of "Horses" a la a high speed chase or reminiscent of Spanish desperadoes. Percussion heavy with violin ornaments featuring Jenavieve Varga from Lost in the Trees, the track pulses with danger and intrigue as Rowe booming baritone occasionally turns to dramatic melismatic howls. "Horses" is the kind of track that makes your heart beat and blood pump a little faster when it plays, regardless of how many times you listen. It's energetic and features more of Rowe's brilliant narrative pacing. An exciting peak at what to expect from the new album. 

Sean Rowe's The Salesman and the Shark is out August 28th on ANTI-.

 

Lost in the Trees - "Golden Eyelids"

I can't shake the feeling that North Carolina folkcestra Lost in the Trees' A Church That Fits Our Needs is going to reduce each and everyone of its listeners to blubbering piles of raw emotion. Why? Well everything they do seems to be imbued with a downright unfair amount of deeply affecting emotion. What's more, it's all earnest - the album's a tribute to Ari Picker's late mother and each track is filled to the absolutely brim with love and dressed up in layers of care and understanding. At least from what I've heard so far of it.

Today we get another preview of the album with "Golden Eyelids" and while it's not as strangely catchy as "Red", it's no less soul-stirring. If the tenderly crafted orchestration wasn't enough to send you on an emotional bender, each time Picker opens his mouth he cuts straight to the heart in a way that should be downright illegal. Listen to beautiful new track "Golden Eyelids":
Lost In The Trees - Golden Eyelids by antirecords

(via KCRW Blog)

Lost in the Trees' A Church That Fits Our Needs is out March 20th on Anti-

Watch: Lost in the Trees - "Red"

If there's anything I've learned in the year since North Carolina folk orchestra Lost in the Trees first entered my life, it's that they don't do anything half-way. Not only do their songs contain bare, honest lyrics that should make songwriter Ari Picker feel emotionally claustrophobic, but they also offer up bewilderingly impressive music videos as well as their new video for "Red" will prove. A visual marvel, there's numerous things going on in each and every shot (like the spinning dancer in a photo hanging on a wall and a growing houseplant) with each minimalistic touch combined together to create an utterly beautiful display that's gorgeous and a bit unsettling not unlike the track itself.


Watch Lost in the Trees video for "Red":



(via NPR)

Lost in the Trees' A Church That Fits Our Needs is out March 20th

Lost in the Trees - "Red"

Ever since discovering North Carolina orchestral pop group Lost in the Trees last year via their amazing NPR Tiny Desk concert, I've essentially been looking forward to the release of their brand new album they've been constantly alluding to. Much like 2010's All Alone in An Empty House was inspired by songwriter Ari Picker's, troubled childhood, the new album A Church That Fits Our Needs finds a similar source of seemingly dark inspiration. The new album is Picker's tribute to his late mother who took her own life back in 2009. If the first single devastatingly beautiful "Red" is anything to go of, A Church That Fits Our Needs will be as equally resonant, if not more. The track features the lush orchestration and rich melodies the band is known for with Emma Nadeau's wordless vocalise providing a veritable cascade of emotion.



A Church That Fits Our Needs is out March 20th.

Pitstop: Little Tybee

What could be gleaned from my love of Typhoon, Oryx and Crake, and Lost in the Trees (among numerous others) is that there's a very special place in my heart for the folk orchestra. There's a certain untouched majesty and epic grandeur that comes with having a large cast of musicians all working to create music that is not only performed well and arranged spectacularly but also wonderfully accessible without losing any of that masterful touch. Atlanta, Georgia's Little Tybee is another one these bands.

What separates Little Tybee and it's fluctuating group of members apart from the multitude of other bands that are essentially doing the same thing is that they aren't. Their phrases flexible, the arrangements handled with marked equality; and Brock Scott's vocals, with its folksy lilt, form the basis for what is Little Tybee. But their spark of individuality is gained from how they handle their songwriting. The Nirvana Kelly's violin isn't just relegated to delicate flourishes but soulfully accompanies Scott and his acoustic guitar. The bass and drums much more than mere beat keepers, getting their own opportunities to shine. Each member of the band gets a important and noticeable place to show their talent, but it's handed with such subtlety and modesty, that you can't help but smile.

Get to know Little Tybee with the live video for "History":

Lost in the Trees release two new videos

North Carolina folk orchestra Lost in the Trees have certainly been busy: playing numerous shows on tour, the occasional tribute show, and having just begun recording their new album; they somehow had time to film not one but two new music videos.



The first video for "If You're Afraid of the Dark" is actually from the band's 2007 release Time Taunts Me and uses footage from old movies. There's not a lot of info available for the video but it uses the archival footage to both create this otherworldly feel while still maintaining this odd sense of calm. Furthermore it's a great way to hear a track from an album that's not widely available.

The second new video is the title track from their recently released All Alone in An Empty House. The video, directed by bandleader Ari Picker as well as Jerry Stifelman of CreatoDestructo, is nothing short of insane containing way more conflict than I think I've ever seen in a music video. The video plays more like a mini horror movie featuring a violent standoff in the kitchen that somehow manages to remain unresolved before spiraling off into further insanity with the cinematography really adding to the creepy, supernatural elements of the video. A lot of time you have a music video that has nothing to do with the track accompanying it, but not this time. Lost in the Trees hit the nail on the head with this one. It's beautifully shot, distinctly memorable, and hella creepy.

Lost In The Trees - All Alone In An Empty House (2010)

Nowadays it's not uncommon for an band (especially an indie one) to consist of a wide variety of personnel and instruments but Lost In The Trees manages to set itself apart from them. A veritable folk symphony that frames Ari Picker's dulcet tenor, consists of capable members with the ability to move as an organic whole as simply as one might take a breath. All Alone In An Empty House as a whole is filled with heartbreaking melancholy aptly illustrated by Picker's doleful songwriting. A collective of classical musicians, several times during the album you really get to witness their playing prowess as well as Picker's compositional skills with the instrumental sketches. Skillfully wielding the dramatic power of an orchestra with the intimate narrative of a singer-songwriter, All Alone In An Empty House is bound to be one of your favorite albums due mostly in part to their multi-faceted allure, and surprising strength in performance, writing, and presentation that mask the fact that the album is in fact their debut.

Get a taste of the subtle intensity of Lost In The Trees with the video for "Walk Around the Lake" and if you like what you hear, make sure to see them on their upcoming tour. Tour dates can be found on their website here.