Following a strong stream of tracks released in support of their new‘Above The Water’ album, we once again return to catch the latest offering from Montclair, New Jersey-based art rock collective Elk City – ‘Floating Above The Water’ is a beautiful and grounding song. This is certainly one of the highlights from the band’s album, out now via Magic Door Record Label. which has been extremely well received across several continents now. Recorded and filmed by H. Robert Escurel, the live video footage presented here was captured during the band’s latest performance at Union Pool in Brooklyn.
Some bands have that striped-sunlight sound; Elk City has that moon-reflecting-on-the-water sound. It’s always nighttime in Elk City – the same nighttime where Big Star liked to see the people. The same nighttime where, every so often, that ol’ killing moon comes too soon. Elk City’s ‘Above the Water’ LP is that particular stripe of evocative post-everything rock ‘n’ roll, exalted and earthy at once, revelling in the joy of experience. Because that’s exactly how these songs got written in the first place – the band jammed until they existed.
Drummer-producer Ray Ketchem and vocalist-artist Renée LoBue have helmed Elk City since 2000, opening new chapters into their sound across 5 albums and 3 EPs. But with their 2022 LP, Above the Water, they’ve abandoned the script altogether, and that has everything to do with the group’s current lineup, which features guitarists Sean Eden (Luna), Chris Robertson (Psychedelic Furs side project Feed) and bassist Richard Baluyut (Versus).
Renée LoBue says: “The lyrics to “Floating Above the Water” are partially a nod to my favorite cult documentary ‘The Source Family’ – “There are homes we can live in. There are names we were given.” In a broader sense, it’s a call to float or rise above immersive illusions of the material world. Ultimately, it’s about expansion; remaining psyched (pun intended) about the continual journey of seeking that which opens doors to a soul’s unfolding.”
This single following their Suzanne Vega-esque confessional single ‘Apology Song’, upbeat introspective lead track ‘That Someone’ and the laid-back and philosophical ‘Your Time Doesn’t Exist’.
A new chapter in the Montclair, NJ band’s evolution, the new album is vibrant, raw-edged and bold, showcasing a new guitar-rich lineup. Released via the newly-launched Magic Door Record Label, founded by Guided by Voices drummer Kevin March with Ketchem and LoBue with a simple mission to release music created by the rich community of artists who surround them, this album reveals the band’s North Jersey roots and lineage with The Feelies, Yo La Tengo (with whom they share a former label, Bar/None) and Luna (with whom they share a guitarist).
‘Above the Water’ was recorded, mixed and mastered at Ketchem’s Magic Door Recording, opened in 2017 as an acoustically lush refuge for musical expression and experimentation. Ketchem, whose production credits include Guided By Voices, Luna and Gramercy Arms, partnered with legendary studio designer George Augspurger to transform a cavernous warehouse into a freeform studio where vintage microphones, modern studio gear, and bespoke sound tuning elevate and inspire.
The ‘Above The Water’ LP is out now, available across fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz andSpotify, as well as Bandcamp. The band will be playing their album release show in Boston (Jamaica Plain) at The Midway (together with Sleepyhead).
LIVE PERFORMANCE CREDITS
Renee LoBue – vocals
Chris Robertson – guitar
Richard Baluyut – bass, vocals
James Baluyut – guitar
Ray Ketchem – drums
Video recorded and filmed by H. Robert Escurel
‘Above The Water’ LP recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NJ
Written and performed by Elk City
© 2022 sound is crazy music (BMI)
Album artwork by Ray Ketchem & Renée LoBue
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