The fleeting, urgent folk atmospheres of "Wine & Spirits" by North Texas based Side Saddle, like our time here itself, feels like the complex mysteries of life and death and our tenuous connections to both. From the onset, the percolating finger picking that form the framework for Ian McGuinness' melancholy vocals, drew me in, "we were walking down our road at night / the street lamp flickered then went out / you said there are spirits watching over us / or at least there was before now...", and when those beautiful crafted vocals reveal more and more, the words start to sink in deeply. When the building slow burn gives way to galloping acoustic strumming, stoic pretty piano and orchestrations of sound, you get lost in the thoughtful haze and harmonies.
Reflective and somber words clatter in my brain like fence hinges and this beautiful hope and refrain sticks with me, "There's no easy way to pass through / and I'm not leaving / anytime soon / but it's been a long day and / I miss you..."
LINER NOTES:
Side Saddle is pleased to share the new single “Wine & Spirits”. The song marks the band’s first new music since the release of the Waltermelon EP, which was favorably compared to Nada Surf and Death Cab for Cutie and dubbed “A rejuvenating indie-pop jewel” by Glide Magazine among other praise. Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and band leader Ian McGuinness is known for his infectious indie-folk melodies and introspective, “bare it all” story telling. Now based in North Texas, Ian and his bandmates will be releasing their upcoming EP Forever and a Little While, produced and mixed by Peter Katis (The National, Hozier, Kurt Vile), later this spring. As a first introduction to this new chapter for Side Saddle, “Wine & Spirits” is a beautiful and contemplative retelling of the emotional resonance surrounding a late night walk frozen in time by the gravity of loss.
“This tune is about my wife's best friend/soulmate who passed away 10 years ago, before my wife and I had met,” shares McGuinness. “I did my best to honor their relationship while delicately inserting my own fear of death. The voice you hear during the bridge is actually an audio clip of Makenna (the deceased) when she and my wife were at a Tarot card reading. Makenna asked the reader ‘was there anything else that connected us’, curious to know if there was something mystical, or otherworldly that could explain their connection. The reader responded, their bond transcended this lifetime and in each of their many lifetimes together, one would be the caretaker for the other as they endured something tragic.”
-Robb Donker Curtius
https://twitter.com/sidesaddlemusic
http://www.sidesaddlemusic.com/
ABOUT
Side Saddle is pleased to share the new single “Wine & Spirits”. The song marks the band’s first new music since the release of the Waltermelon EP, which was favorably compared to Nada Surf and Death Cab for Cutie and dubbed “A rejuvenating indie-pop jewel” by Glide Magazine among other praise. Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and band leader Ian McGuinness is known for his infectious indie-folk melodies and introspective, “bare it all” story telling. Now based in North Texas, Ian and his bandmates will be releasing their upcoming EP Forever and a Little While, produced and mixed by Peter Katis (The National, Hozier, Kurt Vile), later this spring. As a first introduction to this new chapter for Side Saddle, “Wine & Spirits” is a beautiful and contemplative retelling of the emotional resonance surrounding a late night walk frozen in time by the gravity of loss.
“This tune is about my wife's best friend/soulmate who passed away 10 years ago, before my wife and I had met,” shares McGuinness. “I did my best to honor their relationship while delicately inserting my own fear of death. The voice you hear during the bridge is actually an audio clip of Makenna (the deceased) when she and my wife were at a Tarot card reading. Makenna asked the reader ‘was there anything else that connected us’, curious to know if there was something mystical, or otherworldly that could explain their connection. The reader responded, their bond transcended this lifetime and in each of their many lifetimes together, one would be the caretaker for the other as they endured something tragic.”
Forever and a Little While marks the first time Side Saddle has worked with an outside producer. “It was wild recording with Peter in the same place where he has worked on records that have made a massive impact on my songwriting,” shares Ian about the experience. Peter provided the band with guidance every step of the way, and the results are evident on the forthcoming EP. Stay tuned for more music and news from Side Saddle in the coming weeks.
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://twitter.com/sidesaddlemusic
http://www.sidesaddlemusic.com/
ABOUT
Side Saddle is pleased to share the new single “Wine & Spirits”. The song marks the band’s first new music since the release of the Waltermelon EP, which was favorably compared to Nada Surf and Death Cab for Cutie and dubbed “A rejuvenating indie-pop jewel” by Glide Magazine among other praise. Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and band leader Ian McGuinness is known for his infectious indie-folk melodies and introspective, “bare it all” story telling. Now based in North Texas, Ian and his bandmates will be releasing their upcoming EP Forever and a Little While, produced and mixed by Peter Katis (The National, Hozier, Kurt Vile), later this spring. As a first introduction to this new chapter for Side Saddle, “Wine & Spirits” is a beautiful and contemplative retelling of the emotional resonance surrounding a late night walk frozen in time by the gravity of loss.
“This tune is about my wife's best friend/soulmate who passed away 10 years ago, before my wife and I had met,” shares McGuinness. “I did my best to honor their relationship while delicately inserting my own fear of death. The voice you hear during the bridge is actually an audio clip of Makenna (the deceased) when she and my wife were at a Tarot card reading. Makenna asked the reader ‘was there anything else that connected us’, curious to know if there was something mystical, or otherworldly that could explain their connection. The reader responded, their bond transcended this lifetime and in each of their many lifetimes together, one would be the caretaker for the other as they endured something tragic.”
Forever and a Little While marks the first time Side Saddle has worked with an outside producer. “It was wild recording with Peter in the same place where he has worked on records that have made a massive impact on my songwriting,” shares Ian about the experience. Peter provided the band with guidance every step of the way, and the results are evident on the forthcoming EP. Stay tuned for more music and news from Side Saddle in the coming weeks.
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