‘Franny & The Songbirds’ by Ben Copperhead | New Album, ‘Wailing Viridescence’
Exclusive video premiere of ‘Franny & The Songbirds’ by Ben Copperhead, taken from the upcoming album, ‘Wailing Viridescence,’ out April 28th, 2023 via Shimmy-Disc.
‘Franny and the Songbirds’ highlights Copperhead’s compositional and arranging skills for string quartet, his exuberant Stringed Serpents: Jessica Pavone on viola, Tom Swafford on violin, and Brent Arnold on cello. The song was inspired by his timid window gazing cat, Franny Kaede’s (Kae-chan) relationship with migratory birds. It also pays a tribute to an injured migratory bird who he found and helped transport to the local non-profit, Wild Bird Fund, during the process of making this song. The music video was directed by a drummer and filmmaker, Jonathan Levy, who captured a classic NY story of ornithologist Franny (played by actor Fatma Layla Girle) and birds in action. It was shot entirely in NYC and Central Park.
‘Wailing Viridescence’ is a 10-track album of sci-fi/psych-folk songs and instrumentals written by NYC-based multi-instrumentalist Ben Copperhead. The album was mainly recorded on a 4-track tape machine and features his exuberant Stringed Serpents: Jessica Pavone on viola, Tom Swafford on violin, and Brent Arnold on cello, who co-produced the string sessions with Grammy-nominated engineer, Mike Tarantino. The album was mastered by Kramer. A few of Copperhead’s past favorite recordings that were hand-picked by Kramer are also included.
To celebrate the record, Ben Copperhead will host a record release show alongside his “Stringed Serpents” — Jessica Pavone (viola), Nick Anton (cello), Tom Swafford (violin), Emily Manzo (keys), Michele Temple (of Pere Ubu, bass), David Berger (drums) — at Nublu in NYC on Thursday May 4 (7:00 PM). Jace Clayton and Chris Moore (of Negative Approach) will also perform that evening.
A key inspiration for Ben Copperhead’s new album, ‘Wailing Viridescence,’ can be traced back to his appreciation of old recordings using analog reel to reel tape. Years ago, while on tour in the UK, Ben found a book called Tape Music Composition. Cherishing the warming qualities of magnetic sound, he started teaching himself through experimentations in recording techniques. Utilizing a restored 4-track machine, he relished the challenge imposed upon himself by the constraints and parameters of the medium. The results yielded what he believes to be his strongest album to date.
Featuring a collection of songs and several instrumental tracks, ‘Wailing Viridescence’ represents Copperhead’s deeply personal response to the physical, spiritual, and social injustice. It can be seen, in part, as having been born out of a desire for healing and self-expression under the paradoxical conditions of a need for self-reliance imposed from without and a longing for community coming from within. For Copperhead, this imposition of physical limitations and communal desire gave rise to unexpected inspirations.
Headline photo: Jorge Denning
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