Seasoned Vancouver drummer Kenton Loewen has taken on a lead role with his project the Crackling and released an album in 2011 and an EP in 2012. Now, he's back with another full-length, Mary Magdalene, due out April 23 through File Under: Music.
The album finds Loewen backed by his band and a host of guests, including Dan Mangan (who Loewen plays drums with), ex-Mother Mother singer Debra Jean Creelman, celebrated violinist Jesse Zubot, trumpeter JP Carter and the Vancouver Children's Choir. Composer Eyvind Kang, who has worked with the likes of Animal Collective, Sunn O))) and the Decemberists, charted the string arrangements.
According to a press release, these songs "deliver a darkened warmth and offer a palette of stories that take the listener into a world of contrasts via exceptional musicianship and artful songwriting. Through 10 songs, we learn of the consequence of harm, experience love through a filter of hope, ponder right and wrong, feel pain, understand perseverance and uphold the joy of love."
The album includes a self-titled song, "The Crackling." You can stream that husky jukyard folk-rock stomper at the bottom of the page.
The tracklist is also below. You'll notice that Mary Magdalene includes most of the songs from last year's Ashen EP.
Mary Magdalene:
1. The Harm
2. Keep Me Drunk
3. You're Sure That I'm Wrong
4. The Crackling
5. Suicide Is Painless
6. Ashen
7. I Ask You for the Courage
8. The Cold Sky
9. Sold the Children
10. I Love You Tonight
The album finds Loewen backed by his band and a host of guests, including Dan Mangan (who Loewen plays drums with), ex-Mother Mother singer Debra Jean Creelman, celebrated violinist Jesse Zubot, trumpeter JP Carter and the Vancouver Children's Choir. Composer Eyvind Kang, who has worked with the likes of Animal Collective, Sunn O))) and the Decemberists, charted the string arrangements.
According to a press release, these songs "deliver a darkened warmth and offer a palette of stories that take the listener into a world of contrasts via exceptional musicianship and artful songwriting. Through 10 songs, we learn of the consequence of harm, experience love through a filter of hope, ponder right and wrong, feel pain, understand perseverance and uphold the joy of love."
The album includes a self-titled song, "The Crackling." You can stream that husky jukyard folk-rock stomper at the bottom of the page.
The tracklist is also below. You'll notice that Mary Magdalene includes most of the songs from last year's Ashen EP.
Mary Magdalene:
1. The Harm
2. Keep Me Drunk
3. You're Sure That I'm Wrong
4. The Crackling
5. Suicide Is Painless
6. Ashen
7. I Ask You for the Courage
8. The Cold Sky
9. Sold the Children
10. I Love You Tonight
