ME & LP is Matthew Embree and Lisa Papineau, a collaborative project borne of freeform sessions between the pair of celebrated songwriters. Their 6-song EP Chez Raymond is the result of wildly productive writing begun in 2010 which resulted in a collection of songs ranging in mood and style.
ME & LP came about when the two artists first met after volunteering to collaborate for a performance at a gallery opening for artist Sonny Kay. "It came from us basically shaking hands to say 'very nice to make your acquaintance', setting up a mic, and then jumping right in without another word," Papineau says. "A couple hours later, we pulled our heads up and kind of laughed." The duo had found a miraculous chemistry, and made plans to work on an EP later in Paris at Papineau's apartment following Embree's upcoming European tour. Having begun writing in Paris, the pair were then invited to Papineau's friend and collaborator Matthieu's studio on a farm in rural France to work amid lettuce, rye and pea patches. Though the EP ultimately was recorded and mixed in a number of locations, the heart of it came to be at the farm studio dubbed Chez Raymond, after Matthieu's uncle who used to live there. Matthieu also contributed a variety of keys: piano, Rhodes electric piano, organ and accordion.
Chez Raymond opens with the gentle lilt of Flamenco style plucked guitar chords of "Quatro" as the singers' beautiful, hushed vocal harmony drops in like an ominously sad lullaby. Second song, "Truth Be Told" is a haunting acoustic folk-blues lament, driven largely by Embree and Papineau's gorgeously synergistic voices. "La Belle Tocade" begins with warbling antique organ notes as Papineau cherubically intones over a bouncing bass line and drum beat vaguely reminiscent of Portishead. "(Bonnie Says) No Shitty Ride" pairs a rocksteady drum machine groove with a diaspora spanning melody that Manu Chao would kill for, led by Embree's majestic lead vocal performance.
Throughout, Chez Raymond is a dramatically beautiful and captivating meeting of two extremely talented and versatile songwriters that merges into a recording that is both ethereal and cozy. "Room tone is absolutely one of the dominant 'instruments' on this album," Papineau explains. "Or rather, various room tones. Matt's woody old apartment in Long Beach where he recorded 'Quatro' and finger taps. The guest bed at my friend's house where I recorded the vocal for 'Quatro', draping a mic over a mound of pillows. Too much natural reverb on anything we recorded at my house. A couple really good pops on the mic from bopping into it while we floppy danced around Chez Raymond. It all brings a very dusty ambience to the sound of the record."
Chez Raymond will be available digitally everywhere on August 9th, 2011 via Sargent House.
Photos - Hi Resolution
JPG | 1 - Photo credit: Marianne Williams
JPG | 2 - Photo credit: Marianne Williams
JPG | 3 - Photo credit: Marianne Williams
Album Art
JPG | "Chez Raymond"
01. Quatro
02. Truth Be Told
03. La Belle Tocade (MP3)
04. Everybody Got Somewhere
05. (Bonnie Says) No Sh*tty Ride
06. Right On Down The Line
Videos Official
YOUTUBE | La Belle Tocade
VIMEO | La Belle Tocade
Contact
Label -
Publicity - Dave Clifford - US/THEM Group
Links
Official Site
Facebook
Twitter
Lisa Papineau Site
Matthew Embree Site
All content © 2011 SARGENT HOUSE