‘The Lake’ – Jennifer Charles’ Haunting Reading from Kramer’s POE “To One in Paradise” (for Hal Willner)
We’re thrilled to premiere ‘The Lake,’ a haunting interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem performed by Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, from Kramer’s album ‘To One in Paradise (for Hal Willner)’ Compilation. This immersive collection, which brings together voices from across the artistic spectrum, was released digitally last month via Shimmy-Disc, with vinyl set to hit stores tomorrow, November 15.
In true tribute to both Edgar Allan Poe and his late friend, the legendary Hal Willner, Kramer’s latest project breathes new life into Poe’s haunting words through a lineup of distinctive voices and ambient soundscapes. Released digitally last month, the album sees Poe’s works reimagined by musicians, actors, poets, and even a magician. Now, just in time for the vinyl release on November 15, Kramer has unveiled ‘The Lake’ — a spellbinding new piece read by Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, brought to life in a lush audio-visual creation.
Charles, whose voice captures the supernatural aura of Poe’s imagery, reflects on her connection to the poem: “The mysteries that water holds, that nature holds, are kin to the elusive, mutating nature of love. The Lake undulates with the dark membrane between life and death, where love’s shadow always sleeps. Kramer conjured this world perfectly with my voice and Poe’s poem,” she shares. “I fell in love with Poe as a girl — nothing more romantic than communing with the dead, right?” This piece also serves as a tribute to their mutual friend Hal Willner, a mentor and innovator lost to early Covid, whose legendary Poe tribute concerts featured Elysian Fields. “We’ve come full circle,” Charles reflects, “and I know Hal can still hear our howls.”
Kramer’s meticulous arrangement of sound and silence gives each reading a cinematic weight, inviting listeners to fully inhabit these timeless verses. Each track on ‘To One in Paradise’ feels like a world unto itself, a spectral realm shaped by Kramer’s production and the unique artistry of each performer. In a nod to the avant-garde tradition, the album closes with an archival recording of Allen Ginsberg’s haunting recitation of ‘The Bells,’ echoing the spectral world Kramer has conjured.
Charles reflects on her collaboration with Kramer as a new artistic chapter: “I’ve known Kramer since the early Knitting Factory days, and we’ve always danced as two respectful ships that pass in the night. Finally, we’re getting to make something together, and I feel we’re just dipping our toes in.”
POE “To One in Paradise” (for Hal Willner) is now available via Shimmy-Disc — with vinyl hitting stores tomorrow, it’s a must-experience for fans of the darker, lyrical beauty only Poe, Kramer, and this remarkable cast can deliver.
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Shimmy-Disc Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp
‘Dreamland’ by Kramer & Lydia Lunch | New Album, ‘To One in Paradise (for Hal Willner) by Poe’
