Smart Flesh

Submitted by nonesuch on
Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

The Low Anthem recorded the majority of Smart Flesh in a cavernous, vacant pasta sauce factory, using an eclectic array of instruments, like jaw harp, musical saw, stylophone, antique pump organs, and oversized drum kits. The New York Times and Los Angeles Times both call the songs "gorgeous." NPR says it's "beautiful through and through." The deluxe edition includes a bonus disc of additional music and comes in a letterpress, numbered edition.

Description

On February 22, 2011, The Low Anthem released Smart Flesh, the self-produced follow-up to their critically lauded 2009 release, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, on Nonesuch. The majority of Smart Flesh's 11 tracks were recorded in a cavernous, vacant pasta sauce factory in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Additional tracking was done in a Providence garage (dubbed the “gator pit"). Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk) mixed the record in Omaha with additional mixing by engineer Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins) in New York. The Low Anthem is four multi-instrumentalists—Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky, Jocie Adams, and newest member Mat Davidson.

Paranormal hitchhikers, taught highwires, aircraft, swelling tumors, whirring machinery, deserted highways, mannequins, cremation, and formaldehyde make up the language of Smart Flesh—its themes include love, longing, and the vain contortions of our lives before death.

The band surveyed dozens of spaces for their portable recording studio. “We knew right away when we stepped into the factory. The space was really the main instrument for the whole record. The resonance was chilling," says Miller. "We were able to experiment with new recording techniques to capture the sound at different distances. Mics 100, even 200 feet away caught the sound barreling across the room.”

The Low Anthem is fascinated with tone and timbre. The eclectic array of instruments used on Smart Flesh include jaw harp, musical saw, stylophone, three antique pump organs (restored by the band), and oversized drum kits. An elaborate scheme was employed to re-amp noise through various chambers of the factory.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by The Low Anthem

“Pasta Sauce Factory Sessions” (tracks 1-4, 6, 9-11)
Recorded by Jesse Lauter
Mixed by Mike Mogis

“891 N. Main Sessions” (tracks 5, 7, 8)
Recorded by Dan Cardinal
Mixed by Jesse Lauter

Mastered by Robert C. Ludwig

Designed by Alec Thibodeau and Dan Wood
Cover Photograph: Library of Congress, FSA/OWI Collection
Pasta Sauce Factory Photographs by Ryan Mastro
Deluxe edition printed by DWRI Letterpress

All songs written by The Low Anthem except (1) by George Carter and (6) by Jocie Adams

Nonesuch Selection Number

523691

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
FormatRestrictions

This album is available from Nonesuch in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand only.

Album Status
Artist Name
The Low Anthem
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
All instruments played by Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky, Jocie Adams, and Mat Davidson
Additional instruments played by Ben Pilgrim (banjo, track 9; harmonium, track 11), Anton Patzner (violin, track 3), Louis Patzner (cello, track 3), and Robert Houllahan (flickering film, track 3)

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597979565BUN
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597979558
Label
LP+CD+MP3
Price
0.00
UPC
075597978582BUN
Label
2CD+MP3 Deluxe
UPC
075597978575BUN
  • 523691

News & Reviews

  • This year's Newport Folk Festival in July includes sets from Punch Brothers and Sara Watkins. A new short documentary from sö pa productions and Ryan Mastro revisits last year's festival and looks into what makes Newport so special. The video features interviews and performances from artists at last year's festival, including Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Low Anthem, Chris Thile, Michael Daves, Wanda Jackson, and Emmylou Harris. "In the story of my life, folk music brought me to music," says Harris. Newport "was where these people that I just kind of worshiped gathered." Watch the documentary here.

  • The Low Anthem will support Feist on her US tour this spring, the Canadian singer-songwriter announced today. The band will join Feist for four shows in the Midwest in June, making stops in Minneapolis, Madison, Ann Arbor, and Columbus. Ticket on-sale dates and details are still to come. Today's news follows an unforgettable week of collaborations for The Low Anthem with The Chieftains and a SXSW set with Bruce Springsteen.

Buy Now

  • About This Album

    On February 22, 2011, The Low Anthem released Smart Flesh, the self-produced follow-up to their critically lauded 2009 release, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, on Nonesuch. The majority of Smart Flesh's 11 tracks were recorded in a cavernous, vacant pasta sauce factory in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Additional tracking was done in a Providence garage (dubbed the “gator pit"). Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk) mixed the record in Omaha with additional mixing by engineer Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins) in New York. The Low Anthem is four multi-instrumentalists—Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky, Jocie Adams, and newest member Mat Davidson.

    Paranormal hitchhikers, taught highwires, aircraft, swelling tumors, whirring machinery, deserted highways, mannequins, cremation, and formaldehyde make up the language of Smart Flesh—its themes include love, longing, and the vain contortions of our lives before death.

    The band surveyed dozens of spaces for their portable recording studio. “We knew right away when we stepped into the factory. The space was really the main instrument for the whole record. The resonance was chilling," says Miller. "We were able to experiment with new recording techniques to capture the sound at different distances. Mics 100, even 200 feet away caught the sound barreling across the room.”

    The Low Anthem is fascinated with tone and timbre. The eclectic array of instruments used on Smart Flesh include jaw harp, musical saw, stylophone, three antique pump organs (restored by the band), and oversized drum kits. An elaborate scheme was employed to re-amp noise through various chambers of the factory.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    All instruments played by Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky, Jocie Adams, and Mat Davidson
    Additional instruments played by Ben Pilgrim (banjo, track 9; harmonium, track 11), Anton Patzner (violin, track 3), Louis Patzner (cello, track 3), and Robert Houllahan (flickering film, track 3)

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by The Low Anthem

    “Pasta Sauce Factory Sessions” (tracks 1-4, 6, 9-11)
    Recorded by Jesse Lauter
    Mixed by Mike Mogis

    “891 N. Main Sessions” (tracks 5, 7, 8)
    Recorded by Dan Cardinal
    Mixed by Jesse Lauter

    Mastered by Robert C. Ludwig

    Designed by Alec Thibodeau and Dan Wood
    Cover Photograph: Library of Congress, FSA/OWI Collection
    Pasta Sauce Factory Photographs by Ryan Mastro
    Deluxe edition printed by DWRI Letterpress

    All songs written by The Low Anthem except (1) by George Carter and (6) by Jocie Adams

  • Format Availability

    This album is available from Nonesuch in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand only.