Rachel Ries — Ghost of a Gardener (2014)

 

          ^{Rachel Ries — Ghost of a Gardener} 
≈   Classically trained in voice, piano, violin and viola, singer–songwriter Rachel Ries marries sophisticated, vintage musicality to smart lyrics.
Raised in Freeman, South Dakota
Location: Chicago ~ Montpelier, VT
Album release: 18 February 2014
Record Label: SoDak Records
Duration:     35:43
Tracks:
01. Time       3:09
02. Words       3:04
03. Ghost       4:36
04. Holiest Day       4:21
05. Where I Stand       3:12
06. Mercy       2:55
07. Willow       2:55
08. You Can Go       4:07
09. I See It Coming       4:24
10. Standing Still       3:00
℗ 2014 Rachel Ries
Credits:
≈   Rachel Ries: vocals, electric guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel
≈   David Vandervelde: acoustic & electric guitar, electric bass, synthesizer, percussion, vocals
≈   Ariel Bolles: upright bass, vocals
≈   Evan Bivins: drums, percussion
≈   Emmett Kelly: lead guitar
≈   Gregory Alan Isakov: duet vocals
≈   Kristin Slipp: harmony vocals
≈   Cole Kamen–Green: horn arrangements and trumpet
≈   Alec Spiegelman: flute & bass clarinet
≈   Alisa Rose: string arrangements & violin
≈   Dina Maccabee: viola
≈   Jess Ivry: cello
≈   Devon Sproule, Raina Rose, Carrie Elkin, Danny Schmidt: harmony choir
≈   Erica Williams: artwork
≈   Priscilla Medders: layout & design
≈   Producer: Rachel Ries
≈   Co–Producer: David Vandervelde
≈   Recording & Mixing Engineer: Matt Dewine at Pieholden Suite Sounds, Chicago
≈   Assistant Mixing Engineer: David Vandervelde
≈   Additional Engineers: Todd Sickafoose, Christopher McDonald, Paul Curreri
≈   Mastering: Paul Gold at Salt Mastering
Notes:
≈   Ghost of a Gardener was recorded in Chicago in winter 2012/13 at Pieholden Suite Sounds, studio of the late Jay Bennett (Wilco).
≈   Co–produced by Rachel and David Vandervelde, the album features Emmett Kelly (Cairo Gang, Bonnie “Prince” Billy), Gregory Alan Isakov, Evan Bivins (Cary Ann Hearst, Jump Little Children, Duncan Sheik), and members of Brooklyn’s Cuddle Magic — to name a few!
About:
≈   Daughter of Mennonite missionaries, Rachel Ries hails from the inspiring, vast expanses of South Dakota, by way of Zaire. Her formative years were filled with Congolese spirituals, Mennonite hymns and her mom singing her to sleep with The Carpenters. Currently splitting her time between rural Vermont and New York City, Ries, returning from a four years–long hiatus, is releasing her third long player, Ghost of a Gardener, on March 24 via her own label SoDak.
≈   Comprising ten original songs, the album examines the contrasts between rural simplicity and urban isolation as well as strains of regret over her self–imposed career halt. Rachel’s voice at times echoes that of Regina Spektor or early Maria Muldaur and Ghost is full of thoughtful and inventive arrangements ranging from fingerpicked melodicism paired with sweeping strings to the strut of Merle Haggard and the dirge–rock of Neil Young.
≈   Ghost was recorded and produced by Ries along with Secretly Canadian artist David Vandervelde in winter of 2012/13 at Chicago’s Pieholden Suite Sounds, studio of the late Jay Bennett (Wilco). It features Rachel on vocals, electric guitar, piano, organs, synths and glockenspiel, with Vandervelde adding acoustic & electric guitar, bass, synthesizers, percussion and vocals. A large ensemble contributes multi–layered harmonies, trumpets, strings, woodwinds and more. Players include Emmett Kelly (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Cairo Gang), Gregory Alan Isakov and members of Brooklyn’s Cuddle Magic.
≈   Since 2008′s Country EP, a split 45″ with Anaïs Mitchell released on Righteous Babe Records, Ries (“reese”) has recorded and toured extensively with Mitchell supporting Bon Iver and others. She was granted a Chicago Arts award in 2010, worked in a Chicago theatre, toured Europe and the States, learned how to repair Wurlitzers and (kind of) play the drums.
Past work:
≈   Rachel’s first album, “For You Only”, was released on Waterbug Records in August of 2005. “For You Only” is a charming and literary work given additional breadth with a laid–back smattering of banjo, fiddle, piano, accordion, pump organ and percussion. Judith Edelman for Acoustic Guitar magazine writes, “The album was recorded on vintage analog equipment, presumably to further capture a bygone sound. Some artists might need the boost in creating atmosphere, but Ries is well up to the task of invoking mood, memory, and nostalgia all on her own.”
≈   In 2007 Rachel put her heart into making her second album, “Without a Bird”. Warmly analog and carefully orchestral, Without a Bird showcases the artistry of some of Chicago’s finest players: Kevin O’Donnell (Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire, Neko Case), Joel Paterson (Devil in a Woodpile, Kelly Hogan, Steve Dawson), Alison Chesley (Bob Mould, Verbow, Poi Dog Pondering) and Ariel Bolles (Bakelite 78). Without a Bird was recorded & mixed analog and is available on both CD & vinyl through Rachel’s own label, SoDak Records.
≈   In the winter of 2012, Rachel spent a month tucked away and writing in eastern Tennessee. The drafty lakeside house filled with instruments, she recorded the Laurel Lake EP — a limited edition of 405; each one packaged in a sewn and hand–numbered fabric sleeve.
Website: http://rachelries.com/
Bandcamp: https://rachelries.bandcamp.com/album/ghost-of-a-gardener
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachelries
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rachelries
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelkries
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelriesmusic
Press: US: | UK: & | Can & Ire:
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Rachel Ries — Ghost of a Gardener (2014)

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