Departures
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DEPARTURES
(right-click to download songs)
Ghosts
That Way
Everything I Need (5.7MB MP3)
When The Moon Comes Out Tonight
Darlin
How To Say Goodbye
Perfect Harmony (4.8MB MP3)
Until The End
On his second full-length release, Departures, Andy Wagner has captured the slant light that drifts across the motel room floor on the morning you’re leaving. These eight songs softly resound with the quietest longing, a bowed bass, a thunderstorm, an evening of too many cigarettes and another day driving when the windows are down and the air is warm. Departures, tells one story so fully, and that story is goodbye.
Recorded in living rooms and garages and kitchens in New Orleans and Chicago, Wagner played guitars, pianos, harmonica, bells, and accordion, all arranged sparsely, with great care. He brought in friends, Mark Benson (of Lying in States) on drums, Jason Eckerson (of the Notes and Scratches) on upright bass, Maria McCullough (of the House Theatre) on violin, and Matt Martin (AKA Samuel Stiles) on guitar, voice, keyboards and bass. Martin also helped craft the arrangements and engineer and mix the record.
But in the midst of all this remarkable musicianship what truly stands out is Wagner’s voice and his songcraft. There is a nearness, a familiarity, an intimacy in his melodies; his full warm voice sounds like he’s whispering in your ear. And the writing is so strong. Wagner knows the language of morning and mourning and how dust kicks up on the highway on the many long miles to home.
A little bit Willie Nelson, a little bit Morricone, a little bit Jeff Tweedy, Departures is a gorgeous folk record of itinerant departures songs, notes from American wanderings. And on it, Wagner has written and captured his best songs to date.
All songs written and performed by Andy Wagner
With Matt Martin, Jason Eckerson, Maria McCullough and Mark Benson as noted below:
Ghosts ::
Matt: change/keys in pocket, shakers
Mark: drums
That Way ::
Matt: electric Guitar, vox
Everything I Need ::
Matt: bass, sk1, piano, vo
Maria: violin
Mark: snare drum
When The Moon Comes Out Tonight ::
Matt: electric guitars, vox, radio fuzz
Darlin ::
Jason: bass
Mark: drums
How To Say Goodbye ::
Matt: electric guitars
Perfect Harmony ::
Jason: bass
Recorded in New Orleans and Chicago
by Matt Martin and Andy
Except for Perfect Harmony which was recorded by Matt DeWine and Andy in Chicago
Produced by Matt Martin and Andy
Mastered by Bruce Barielle
Cover and CD art by Craig Blakeman
Liner image by Nora McCommiskey
Layout and telephone lines by Joshua Dumas
All songs © 2006 Andy Wagner
