New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Missing Piece Group) "The image is just really striking and dense with movement and possible interpretations. The picture 'feels' like the album feels to me - intense and cathartic, with elements of surprise and songs that speak to new beginnings," explains ED KOWALCZYK of the cover of his new album The Flood and the Mercy (Soul Whisper/Harbour/Caroline Records; release date: October 29, 2013). A striking image by photographer
Douglas Sonders of the explosive moment that a big splash of water hits Kowalczyk from behind, it's the perfect symbol for this album - immersive and engulfing, fully drenched in emotion and musicianship. "The Flood and the Mercy is really about the fact that life can go through these dramatic periods of movement, maybe even suffering, while simultaneously revealing great truths about yourself and even strength that you never knew you possessed."
Kicking off with the rock scorcher "
The One", it's apparent that Kowalczyk's second solo album is one packed with vitality, strength and power. Lyrically dense and layered, mirroring perfectly the musical textures that he explores in depth, The Flood and the Mercy is a progression toward the music he's been striving to write. "I definitely feel as if I've moved forward in a major way in terms of my songwriting and singing on this record," he says. Accompanying him on this album are influential friends, singer/songwriter
Rachael Yamagata and
R.E.M. guitarist
Peter Buck. "I'm really blessed to have
Peter and Rachael on this album. It definitely feels serendipitous to have this caliber of guest musicians at this pivotal moment for me as a relatively new solo artist," he explains. "'Holy Water Tears' with Rachael singing on it is such a special moment for me in my career. It doesn't feel like a 'duet' to me. There is more of a union of voices and personas than a typical duet. The first time I heard it, I fell into a musical and artistic swoon. It's a deep song.
Peter Buck's performances on the record are so Zen and effortless and singular. He's just an absolute genius."
The first single "
Seven" is a perfect example of the depths that Kowalczyk plumbs for his songs. "There is a book by an anonymous writer from the 14th Century called the The Cloud of Unknowing. It's always been a go-to for me over the years for its profoundly moving description of the process of releasing or surrendering everything for Truth," he says of the song's origin. "'Seven' is my reply to it in a way, or an extension of my understanding of it at this point. Life is a road with all kinds of unexpected turns and surprises and sometimes, no matter how strong you think you are, you get crushed and can't find the light.
Light breaks down into seven primary colors when viewed through a prism. In a way, life in all of its ups and downs, losses and victories, is just that pure
Light that we truly are, but seen refracted by the 'prism' of this personal lifetime and experience."
Already making headway onto the radio, "
Seven" has been generating steam with early adds on stations across the country. Among those who added the song right out of the box are Boston's WXRV, Norfolk, VA's WHRV, Knoxville, TN's WFIV, Park Hills, MO's KDBB and Monmouth, NJ's WBJB.
Emerging from York, PA in the early 90s in celebrated, multiplatinum band LIVE, Kowalczyk help define alternative rock into what it is today. With breakthrough albums Mental Jewelry and Throwing Copper that sprouted such staples of modern rock radio as "I Alone", "Selling the Drama" and "Lightning Crashes", he continued on with an equally important solo career with his debut Alive that reaffirmed his rightful place in the indie rock landscape. Now armed with his strongest, most confident album to date, he's ready to take control again. With his focus straight ahead with one eye glancing back, he's kicking off this next chapter of his life with The I Alone Acoustic Tour, revisiting his full oeuvre… acoustically. "This tour is my new passion for sure," he says. "I love blowing people's minds with the intensity of the emotion and the intimacy the show inspires. My fans were ready for it. It's selling out all over the world and it's a testament to their ongoing and powerful devotion to my music, in whatever form it takes."
The Flood and the Mercy will be released on October 29, 2013 via Soul Whisper/Harbour/Caroline Records. It was produced by Jamie Candiloro (R.E.M., Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson) and mixed by Tom Lord Alge (Rolling Stones,
Peter Gabriel, Santana).
