Murals
Not your parents’ chamber pop—meet Murals.
We can always count on Fire Talk Records to provide us with music that makes us feel and think in a different way and manner, and the upcoming Murals album Violet City Lantern continues this progressive tradition. Available now, Evan Blum, Rob Monsma, and Jacob Weaver together weave the kind of music that sings and speaks to the spirit in some of the most sublime ways.
The Louisville trio provides a glimpse of solitude and elations expressed in the most serene of sounds as heard on “Long Bridge”. One imagines a walk across foothills, to strolls of trust across two ledges via a rickety suspension bridge while left alone to one’s own thoughts while pondering the greater meanings and motifs from The Man Who Would Be King to the great paradoxes of life.
“I Live Here” continues Murals tapestry textures of sounds that relays the feeling of bliss and ecstasy told through vague frequencies that require repeat listens. Emotions run the course from burgeoning feeling that rises up from the depths of one’s being and up toward the most elevated aspects of our being. This is the song to lift you up from your darkest and bleakest days.
Murals’ “Watching In The Dark” is practically proof that this a band that lives in another time and dimension. This is that psych wonder that the 60s or 70s never brought us but is instinctively illustrated through audio from Murals that paints the observations and thoughts as seen through the eye’s sleepy mind after dark has fallen during the sun’s sacred sabbatical.
Murals’ Jacob Weaver joins us now for the following discussion about their new album and more.
Take us through the motions on how the three of you have forged these really sweet psych-chamber sounds from On a Passing Cloud through Violet City Lantern.
Many of the songs were written while playing all together on nothing in particular, with no real idea in mind until we’d arrive at something that resembled a song, or a loose but intriguing idea. From there we added overdubs. Lyrics were usually written afterwards and to whatever feelings or images the music had given us. Other times one of us would come with an idea and the band would help to realize what could be. Sometimes one of us would have the whole thing worked out in their mind.
Interested in hearing how Murals compose and further develop these beautifully arranged pieces.
Most of it was from listening to what was there and imagining what was possible. Once a more concrete idea was formed it was finding textures and tones that fit. We did all the trumpets, wine glasses, snake charmer’s flute, rain sticks, plain sticks, percussion, organs, synths, keyboards, guzheng, glockenspiels, vibraphones, thumb piano, real piano, toy piano, plucked strings on a grand piano, and whatever else ourselves. Some of it was performed by others; a nice lady, an aspiring Disney princess, a girlfriends dad, a brother.
Tell us about what sorts of bridges and distances informed “Long Bridge”?
I have often had reoccurring dreams about bridges in my life. To me they represent some sort of new change, distance or loss I’ve experienced. Twas’ a rough time, at that time…
Give us stories on the residencies, reveling, and revelations of “I Live Here”.
I Live Here is about having the best day ever, in the place, or any for that matter. Feeling really, really good mostly. Tell us about the observations that gave rise to the sights and sensations of “Watching in the Dark”.
“Watching in the Dark” is about memory in a broad sense. What you hold on to, what you forget and why. One of the images I had was looking out onto an dark field scattered with the silhouettes of all kinds of toys and things, stuff really. Some toys you can see better than others, some stuff you can’t see at all. And of course there are snakes all over the place that make it really hard to stop and focus on the toy you want the most. Do you ever get to play with that toy? I don’t know, but maybe just maybe the snakes will become charmed by your earnest and honesty long enough to make a crab dash towards that most special toy and play with it pretty good before the poison sets.
What does Murals listening to when not recording and composing your own music?
Anything and everything. Recently Fred Neil, Junior Kimbraugh, Fleetwood Mac, Blaze Foley. We had a radio show here in Louisville called “The Colorcast” and there are a few episodes of that out on the net. Gives a pretty good perspective on our tastes but really.
Projections and hopes for 2016?
To have the happiest most productive year of our little boy lives. To earn as much of that precious salad as possible. To decide if one, or two spaces comes after a period.
Murals’ new album Violet City Lanter is available now from Fire Talk Records.
