New York, NY (Top40 Charts) For two years,
Kevin Bachmann had been steadfastly working on an album for "his baby," Summer Magic. In the project, the songwriter and multi-instrumentalist teamed up with the additional songwriting and playing contributions of
Benjamin Marsh. Their collective effort is being released shortly, in the form of an eight-song album, Sharks and Other Dangers, which will soon be available on 12-inch vinyl, with digital options to follow.
Working completely independent of any label or management, Bachmann chose to work on the album with his friend and collaborator
David Beeman, who recorded the songs at Beeman's own Native Sound Recording in South St. Louis. Due to Beeman's frequent touring work with Father John Misty, there were times when "he'd be gone for up to six months," Bachmann recalls. "But I like working with him so much that I'd wait to record during the times he was gone."
From 2008-12, Bachmann was a member of the well-regarded St. Louis shoegaze band Troubadour Dali, in which he worked previously with Marsh. Some of the tracks on "
Sharks" date back to the end of their time with that project.
"Overall, some of the songs were written around the time I left Troubadour, while the other half were written more recently," Bachmann says. "Most of the songs are related to me, to specific relationships or events in my life. Benjamin's contributions, lyrically, can be more abstract, more imagery-based. I like the blend of how he and I write. That blend is really interesting and works in a strong way. Overall, I think the sound of the music unifies our styles pretty well."
Expanding on possibilities of these songs live, the current stage version of Summer Magic includes a half-dozen players: Bachmann (vocals, guitar); Marsh (vocals, guitar); Mike Schurk (drums);
Natalie Huggins (keys/synth/guitar/vocals); Andy Kahn (bass); and
Danny Mayo (guitar). Most of the record was completed before the live band was assembled, though Schurk and Kahn make appearances on it.
Together, the sextet create, according to Bachmann, "a good combination of upbeat, jangly tunes and some darker ones, as well. "I feel as if some of the more upbeat, poppier tunes have darker lyrics underneath them, which was not something I intentionally set out to do." The result, overall, is a sound somewhere between
Elliott Smith and The Jesus and Mary Chain.
What was intended was a short-and-sweet collection of eight tracks for "Sharks," "which," Bachmann says, "I purposefully wanted to do. What's left is tons and tons of other stuff. There's easily enough music, ready to demo, for at least two more albums' worth of material."
With time, those cuts will follow their predecessors into the world. For the remainder of 2018, though, Bachmann and Company are looking to make sure that their studio wizardry finds listeners, whether on vinyl or live/onstage.
"I'm extremely excited to finally get to share this music with everyone and am beyond enthused to see what lies ahead, both individually and collaboratively, as we move forward," Bachmann says. "Summer Magic means the world to me and I hope it's something that others' make a connection with, as well."
Sharks and Other Dangers
Release Date:
September 31, 2018
Tracklisting:
Hey!
Tracing a Bird on Construction Paper
Charles de Gaulle in the Afternoon
New Year's Day Surprise
Attraction Corridors
A Certain
Little Chord
By Your Side
Running Game
