New York based psych-outfit, Mary Vision releases today their newest album, ‘Second Second Coming,’ out via Taxi Gauche Records.

‘Second Second Coming’, Mary Vision’s sophomore LP, is a pastiche of many of Alex Fippinger’s influences, from Lou Reed to Spacemen 3. It is an effort to maximize the minimal, and to create sound that is at once layered and clear. With that, the lyrics also touch on many subjects with an overarching general thesis: the exploration of self and culture under duress. The album allows you to tune into these explorations via different sonic sounds. The writing experience was one initially based on home recordings. Alex Fippinger would manifest these recordings in his Brooklyn apartment and show them to the 7-piece band who always added a flavor not imagined by Alex himself. Yukary Morishima, who played bass on the record, is very prominent throughout. Aaron Peart found himself to be an integral piece to the writing as well, providing a specific flavor to the songs via lead guitar. Jack Dawson played keys for the first time on a Mary Vision record, adding a playful vibe that Mary Vision fans haven’t heard before. Guido Colzani added drums that are full, yet simple, giving the simple song structures a meaningful foundation. Max Braun held it down on the rhythm guitar, the crux of the songs. Mark Perro was a utility man, adding major guitar licks throughout as well as playing harmonium and providing next level backup vocals. Paul Blackwell engineered and produced this record to where it is now.

“Lyrically and sonically we were able to build an album and not just a collection of songs”

Your brand new album is out any day now, how long did you work on it and how much effort and time went into it?

The actual recording process was a week, give or take. We recorded the majority of the songs in late 2019, right before our first record, ‘Highway,’ came out. Then we finished the record in the summer of 2020. We hope to let you imagine what went into it.

Where did you record it? Was the process any different from the previous release?

We recorded it in the rehearsal spaces behind Trans-Pecos in Ridgewood with Paul Blackwell. It wasn’t different in the fact that we wanted to record all the songs live. I think that it is a very important part of the process and we did that with the first album. We’d been playing most of the songs at shows for nearly a year at that point so we had a chance to be more deliberate and mature musically. It was a special session for all of us.

What about songwriting, do you feel you approached it differently? It all started in your apartment…

You know Keith Richards said that great songs can be brought down to an acoustic level and still be great so we kind of subscribe to this ethos and it feels organic. Lyrically and sonically we were able to build an album and not just a collection of songs.

<a href="https://maryvision.bandcamp.com/album/second-second-coming">Second Second Coming by Mary Vision</a>

Tell us about the gear, effects, pedals et cetera.

We pretty much used everything we had at our disposal. We all brought in different equipment. From 12 string guitars to regular guitars to bass guitars to things like harmoniums, weird keyboards, well-tuned drums and lots and lots of percussion.

Tell us about the songs and inspirations for it. Which one is your favourite?

Well, which ones are your favorite? It’s something so close to us that it’s hard to consider this album as anything less. And like we said before we’re making a record not a collection of songs.

There must be a story behind the cover artwork?

Alex took the picture on the back of a horse upstate New York and that picture personifies the second album. The reference of the second coming has to do with retribution or second chances. I found the frame and fixed it up and put a gold leaf on it in a really bad apartment with a UFO lamp in Melbourne.

Are you planning to go on a tour after it?

We’re actively looking for any or all opportunities, just drop us a line.