Let’s assume you’re cool. If you’re cool, then (among the myriad things you’re effortlessly great at) you really know your Thrill Jockey bands. If you really know your Thrill Jockey bands, then you know all about Baltimore fuzz-jammers Arbouretum. If you REALLY KNOW your Arbouretum, then you REALLY KNOW frontman Dave Heumann. AND (glad you’re still with me… really shows how cool you are), if you REALLY KNOW Dave Heumann, then you are totally 1000% aware that he also recently did what frontmen of rock bands do and put out his own folk-pop-leaning solo record, Here In The Deep, which contains the track “Holy King on a Hill” — the reason why you’re reading this little article right now. Boom. You are such a cool person. <3
Anyway, yeah; this amazing stop-motion video (I’m not kissing up; stop-motion is always amazing) was created by none other than Ma Turner, who also masterminded a few other videos that have floated a few boats around here in the past. In other words, it’s pretty much as cool as you are.
The song (and, ya know, the whole album) was produced by another cool person: John Parish (PJ Harvey, Tracy Chapman, Giant Sand), and it utilizes some or all of the talented limbs of a few other cool persons, such as Walker Teret (Lower Dens), drummer/percussionist Mike Kuhl, Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak), and accomplished pianist Hans Chew, among others. Heumann also seems to be touring Europe as we speak. PROBABLY in support of this record? But I guess he was never really explicit. He might just be sightseeing and strumming this song at periodic public transportation depots whenever he needs enough cash for a Royale w/ cheese. Which, honestly, sounds cooler.
[Photo: Matt Condon]