| The Apache Relay — The Apache Relay (2014) |
The Apache Relay — The Apache Relay
¤¤ Nashville–based quintet with a pastoral, roots–pop sound.
Formed: 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Album release: April 22, 2014
Record Label: Nomadic Records/So Recordings (Silva Screen Records Ltd).
Duration: 38:41
Tracks:
01 Katie Queen of Tennessee 3:28
02 Ruby 3:29
03 Terrible Feeling 3:14
04 Don't Leave Me Now 3:04
05 Growing Pains 3:28
06 Good as Gold 3:42
07 Forest for the Trees 2:51
08 Dose 4:08
09 White Light 3:30
10 Valley of the Fevers 4:07
11 Happiest Day of Your Life 3:40
© 2014 The Apache Relay
Written by:
¤¤ Kevin Augunas / Brian Fennell / The Apache Relay / Johnathan Rice 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9
¤¤ The Apache Relay / Johnathan Rice 4
¤¤ The Apache Relay 7
¤¤ Jonathan Rice 11
AWARDS
Billboard Albums
¤¤ 2014 The Apache Relay Top Heatseekers #43
CREDITS:
¤¤ Kevin Augunas Composer, Percussion, Producer
¤¤ Jeff Babko Hammond B3, Piano
¤¤ Briana Bandy Viola
¤¤ Giovanna Clayton Cello
¤¤ Jeff Colvin Legal Counsel
¤¤ Alessandro Cortini Synthesizer Programming
¤¤ Reynolds D'Silva Executive Producer
¤¤ Aaron Early Drums, Percussion
¤¤ Aaron Embry Piano
¤¤ Angie Engelbart Vocals
¤¤ Brian Fennell Composer, Vocals
¤¤ Ben Ford Clapping, Group Member, Guitar, Vocals
¤¤ Michael Ford Jr. Chimes, Group Member, Guitar, Vocals
¤¤ Adam Greenup Release Coordinator
¤¤ Mike Harris Clapping, Group Member, Guitar, Guitar (Baritone), Slide Guitar, Vocals
¤¤ Jimmie Haskell Conductor, String Arrangements
¤¤ Jeffrey Hasson Booking
¤¤ Sharon Jackson Violin
¤¤ Peter Kent Violin
¤¤ Bob Ludwig Mastering
¤¤ Dwight Mikkelsen Conductor
¤¤ Brett Moore Clapping, Group Member, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano
¤¤ Clif Norrell Engineer
¤¤ Edward O'Day Management
¤¤ Gavin Paddock Engineer, Percussion, Shaker, Timpani, Vocals
¤¤ Rick Parker Mixing
¤¤ Caryn Rasmussen Copyist
¤¤ Johnathan Rice Composer, Vocals
¤¤ Kathleen Robertson Violin
¤¤ Brad Talley Management
Kellen Wenrich Bass, Chimes, Group Member, Hammond B3, Harpsichord, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Vibraphone
¤¤ Matt Wignall Design, Photography
¤¤ John Wittenberg Concert Master, Contractor, Violin
Review by Timothy Monger; Score: ****
¤¤ Continuing their evolution from straight–up Nashville roots–folk act to purveyors of lush indie pop, the Apache Relay turn in a more refined and distinctively less Southern set for their third effort.
¤¤ A six–piece sporting a full rhythm section, the band has come a long way since the dusty Americana of their 2009 debut 1988, which was billed as Michael Ford Jr. & the Apache Relay.
¤¤ Two years later, they solidified their approach and shortened their band name with American Nomad, a more rock–oriented album that still relied on a certain rootsy, open-road twang. With their self–titled third album, the band eschews Nashville altogether, instead traveling to L.A. to work with esteemed producer Kevin Augunas (the Lumineers, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) at Fairfax Recordings (formerly the legendary Sound City). The resulting album ultimately feels more honed and more unified than anything else they’ve done. Lead single and album–opener “Katie Queen of Tennessee” is a sublime blend of orchestrated, late–’50s countrypolitan and Fleet Foxes–era indie pop. Its deeply reverbed vocal blend and dense, acoustic strumming sets the tone for the rest of the album’s 11 cuts which retain an essence of the band’s roots sound, but filtered through Augunas’ acoustic Wall of Sound. The clever use of mixed hand percussion and a minimalist drum kit endows many of the tracks with catchy rhythmic hooks, like on the punchy, shimmering “Ruby” and the moody “Good as Gold.” Perhaps the album isn’t a complete reinvention of the band, but it’s definitely a case where applying some very distinct stylization to their songs gives the band a very different impression than last time around. The stripping away of more overtly country ornamentations like mandolin and fiddle in favor of piano, organ, and strings complements Ford’s new, more pop–flavored songs, making for the band’s most interesting and engaging album yet.
Artist Biography by Timothy Monger
¤¤ The Apache Relay are an indie folk band from Nashville with a pastoral, roots–pop sound. The band formed in 2008 while attending Nashville's Belmont University, with singer/guitarist Michael Ford, Jr. eventually joining the existing core group of Mike Harris (guitar), Brett Moore (mandolin, organ), and Kellen Wenrich (fiddle). Working with Avett Brothers producer Doug Williams, the quartet released their debut in 2009, a concept album called 1988 under the name Michael Ford, Jr. & the Apache Relay. For their follow–up, 2011's American Nomad, Ford's name was dropped from the moniker and they simply became The Apache Relay. ¤¤ Building on the attention they'd gotten from 1988, American Nomad raised their profile even more, garnering praise from Paste Magazine and eventually landing the group several prime opening slots for nu–folk stars Mumford & Sons and gigs at popular festivals like Bonnaroo in 2012. Around this time, frontman Michael Ford's younger brother Ben Ford joined the group, rounding out the lineup. For their third album, the group traveled to L.A. to record with respected producer Kevin Augunas (the Lumineers, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) at his Fairfax Studio. The resulting self–titled album was released in April 2014. :: http://www.allmusic.com/
Website: http://theapacherelay.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apacherelay
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/theapacherelay
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FeuRTI7hM8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theapacherelay
Press Contact:
Mary Moyer:
Booking Agent:
High Road Touring
Brian Jonas: and Frank Riley
Management:
Project Daybreak: Artist Management
Edward O’Day:
Brad Talley:
____________________________________________________________
| The Apache Relay — The Apache Relay (2014) |
¤¤ Nashville–based quintet with a pastoral, roots–pop sound.
Formed: 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Album release: April 22, 2014
Record Label: Nomadic Records/So Recordings (Silva Screen Records Ltd).
Duration: 38:41
Tracks:
01 Katie Queen of Tennessee 3:28
02 Ruby 3:29
03 Terrible Feeling 3:14
04 Don't Leave Me Now 3:04
05 Growing Pains 3:28
06 Good as Gold 3:42
07 Forest for the Trees 2:51
08 Dose 4:08
09 White Light 3:30
10 Valley of the Fevers 4:07
11 Happiest Day of Your Life 3:40
© 2014 The Apache Relay
Written by:
¤¤ Kevin Augunas / Brian Fennell / The Apache Relay / Johnathan Rice 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9
¤¤ The Apache Relay / Johnathan Rice 4
¤¤ The Apache Relay 7
¤¤ Jonathan Rice 11
AWARDS
Billboard Albums
¤¤ 2014 The Apache Relay Top Heatseekers #43
CREDITS:
¤¤ Kevin Augunas Composer, Percussion, Producer
¤¤ Jeff Babko Hammond B3, Piano
¤¤ Briana Bandy Viola
¤¤ Giovanna Clayton Cello
¤¤ Jeff Colvin Legal Counsel
¤¤ Alessandro Cortini Synthesizer Programming
¤¤ Reynolds D'Silva Executive Producer
¤¤ Aaron Early Drums, Percussion
¤¤ Aaron Embry Piano
¤¤ Angie Engelbart Vocals
¤¤ Brian Fennell Composer, Vocals
¤¤ Ben Ford Clapping, Group Member, Guitar, Vocals
¤¤ Michael Ford Jr. Chimes, Group Member, Guitar, Vocals
¤¤ Adam Greenup Release Coordinator
¤¤ Mike Harris Clapping, Group Member, Guitar, Guitar (Baritone), Slide Guitar, Vocals
¤¤ Jimmie Haskell Conductor, String Arrangements
¤¤ Jeffrey Hasson Booking
¤¤ Sharon Jackson Violin
¤¤ Peter Kent Violin
¤¤ Bob Ludwig Mastering
¤¤ Dwight Mikkelsen Conductor
¤¤ Brett Moore Clapping, Group Member, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano
¤¤ Clif Norrell Engineer
¤¤ Edward O'Day Management
¤¤ Gavin Paddock Engineer, Percussion, Shaker, Timpani, Vocals
¤¤ Rick Parker Mixing
¤¤ Caryn Rasmussen Copyist
¤¤ Johnathan Rice Composer, Vocals
¤¤ Kathleen Robertson Violin
¤¤ Brad Talley Management
Kellen Wenrich Bass, Chimes, Group Member, Hammond B3, Harpsichord, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Vibraphone
¤¤ Matt Wignall Design, Photography
¤¤ John Wittenberg Concert Master, Contractor, Violin
Review by Timothy Monger; Score: ****
¤¤ Continuing their evolution from straight–up Nashville roots–folk act to purveyors of lush indie pop, the Apache Relay turn in a more refined and distinctively less Southern set for their third effort.
¤¤ A six–piece sporting a full rhythm section, the band has come a long way since the dusty Americana of their 2009 debut 1988, which was billed as Michael Ford Jr. & the Apache Relay.
¤¤ Two years later, they solidified their approach and shortened their band name with American Nomad, a more rock–oriented album that still relied on a certain rootsy, open-road twang. With their self–titled third album, the band eschews Nashville altogether, instead traveling to L.A. to work with esteemed producer Kevin Augunas (the Lumineers, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) at Fairfax Recordings (formerly the legendary Sound City). The resulting album ultimately feels more honed and more unified than anything else they’ve done. Lead single and album–opener “Katie Queen of Tennessee” is a sublime blend of orchestrated, late–’50s countrypolitan and Fleet Foxes–era indie pop. Its deeply reverbed vocal blend and dense, acoustic strumming sets the tone for the rest of the album’s 11 cuts which retain an essence of the band’s roots sound, but filtered through Augunas’ acoustic Wall of Sound. The clever use of mixed hand percussion and a minimalist drum kit endows many of the tracks with catchy rhythmic hooks, like on the punchy, shimmering “Ruby” and the moody “Good as Gold.” Perhaps the album isn’t a complete reinvention of the band, but it’s definitely a case where applying some very distinct stylization to their songs gives the band a very different impression than last time around. The stripping away of more overtly country ornamentations like mandolin and fiddle in favor of piano, organ, and strings complements Ford’s new, more pop–flavored songs, making for the band’s most interesting and engaging album yet.
Artist Biography by Timothy Monger
¤¤ The Apache Relay are an indie folk band from Nashville with a pastoral, roots–pop sound. The band formed in 2008 while attending Nashville's Belmont University, with singer/guitarist Michael Ford, Jr. eventually joining the existing core group of Mike Harris (guitar), Brett Moore (mandolin, organ), and Kellen Wenrich (fiddle). Working with Avett Brothers producer Doug Williams, the quartet released their debut in 2009, a concept album called 1988 under the name Michael Ford, Jr. & the Apache Relay. For their follow–up, 2011's American Nomad, Ford's name was dropped from the moniker and they simply became The Apache Relay. ¤¤ Building on the attention they'd gotten from 1988, American Nomad raised their profile even more, garnering praise from Paste Magazine and eventually landing the group several prime opening slots for nu–folk stars Mumford & Sons and gigs at popular festivals like Bonnaroo in 2012. Around this time, frontman Michael Ford's younger brother Ben Ford joined the group, rounding out the lineup. For their third album, the group traveled to L.A. to record with respected producer Kevin Augunas (the Lumineers, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) at his Fairfax Studio. The resulting self–titled album was released in April 2014. :: http://www.allmusic.com/
Website: http://theapacherelay.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apacherelay
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/theapacherelay
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FeuRTI7hM8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theapacherelay
Press Contact:
Mary Moyer:
Booking Agent:
High Road Touring
Brian Jonas: and Frank Riley
Management:
Project Daybreak: Artist Management
Edward O’Day:
Brad Talley:
____________________________________________________________