Marissa Nadler presents new video of her Townes Van Zandt Cover „Quicksilver Daydreams Of Maria“!
This march Townes Van Zandt would have turned 77 and his music still touches people. On July 1, My Proud Mountain releases „Songs of Townes Van Zandt Vol. III“. Another album on which no less than Amenra, Cave In and Marissa Nadler cover a selection of his songs, as homage to the songwriting genius that he was.
The new single „Quicksilver Dreams of Maria“, and also the album’s opener, features Nadler in a daydream with wistful siren vocals that embody the lovelorn and lusty side of Townes Van Zandt that some listeners tend to overlook.
“I wanted to shine a light on some of Townes Van Zandt’s lesser known, but equally excellent songs from his vast body of work.” sagt Nadler. “His deeply romantic lyrical tendencies are intricately displayed on the three songs that I chose, as well as the pervasive loneliness and deep-seated sadness, always waiting right outside the door.”
Marissa Nadler also says about the song:
„This song is so intense. The words roll off his tongue- such a great lyrical flow. I remember when I first heard this song, I felt like I had always known it. It felt ancient and eternal…. Maria becomes a mythical figure in this song. She’s powerful, she’s a presence or a ghost, it’s hard to tell- the line between reality and fantasy is so beautifully blurred.“
Here is the video of Quicksilver Dreams of Maria“:
ountain Shop
Neurosis are so much more than a band. At times, they seem to be at the heart of a sentient organism, fully functioning all by itself, with the activities of their members and of the entire Neurot family constituting the remaining organs and limbs of this fascinating creature. None of those activities are more deeply connected and enwrapped around that ever-beatingheart than the solo careers of guitarists/vocalists Scott Kelly and Steve Von Till themselves. Therefore, it is but natural that the Neurosis 30th anniversary celebrations that will take place at Roadburn will also include a typically intimate and profoundly touching solo performance by each of the two musicians. Like Neurosis themselves, and most of their related other projects, it is not the first time Roadburners will have the immense honour and pleasure to witness these two men alone on a stage pouring their souls out, much more vulnerable and naked than usual, displaying their tremendous courage. Both of them performed solo on the European version of their Beyond The Pale event which enriched the 2009 edition beyond our wildest dreams, and Scott had also played the year before, marking the release of his harrowing second album, The Wake. In these last few years, however, much has happened in artistic terms that will make these concerts an equally fascinating, yet decisively different endeavour. Although he had already released two solo records when he first stepped on his own on the Roadburn stage, the bleakly atmospheric Spirit Bound Flesh and the aformentioned starkly minimalist The Wake, Scott Kelly has since been particularly active as a stage performer outside Neurosis, touring Europe and the United States several times, and often in very good company. The much-praised The Forgiven Ghost In Me album, released in 2012 under the moniker Scott Kelly And The Road Home, highlighted the collaborative potential of hissolo work, and achieving a rare balance between the intimacy of a solo work and the possibilities afforded by a band effort. Since then, Scott has frequently played accompanied by The Road Home, which currently consists of the like-minded cohorts that are fellow Neurosis bandmate Noah Landis and „Denver Sound“ legend Jay Munly. He has also participated in a few split releases, as well as contributing three songs to the first volume of the Songs Of Townes Van Zandt collection. It is the sum of all these experiences that we will witness at Roadburn when Scott sits down, quietly, with his guitar, and we bet there won’t be a dry eye in the room when he bows out at the end. Steve Von Till made us wait a little while for the follow up to his superb 2009 album, A Grave Is A Grim Horse, only giving us three songs on that same Songs Of Townes Van Zandt collection in the meantime to stave off the hunger, but every second of wait was worth it when we finally got to hear A Life Unto Itself. Right now, it still resonates deeply within us as much as it did when it was released last May, if not more so – its sparse and starkly elegant mixture of Americana, ancient folk music and psychedelia constantly leaving us pleasantly lost insome figurative deep dark wood. It has the sobriety, the earthy mysticism, the emotional evocative power and same spiritual connection to nature and to forgotten ancient times his two first albums did, As The Crow Flies from 2000 and If I Should Fall To The Field from 2002, but it’s also brimming with surprising electric subtleties which were first explored on A Grave Is A Grim Horse. If we add to this the fact that, alongside his solo work under his own name, Steve also maintains activity as Harvestman, his home-recorded, psychedelic improvised project which he has released three amazing, mind-altering records with (one of them, Trinity, a very appropriate soundtrack to an Italian horror film), and from which he often performs a few pieces during his solo shows, we can expect a varied, dynamic performance, where the flow of continuity is assured by Steve’s unmistakable vocal and guitar personality. Scott Kelly and Steve Von Till will therefore complete the weekend-long Neurosis anniversary experience with both performances taking place at the Het Patronaat on Friday, April15th. Each of them will be a life unto itself that must not be missed. Roadburn Festival takes place between 14 – 17 April 2016 at the 013 venue, in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Ticket are on sale! 3-Day Ticket (Thursday through Saturday) 
CHVE Live (more TBA) w/ 
Dear Friends: Following the overwhelming success of My Proud Mountain’s first release, Songs of Townes Van Zandt with Scott Kelly, Steve Von Till and Wino, the label have since been inundated with questions about the next instalment in the series, and flooded with offers from bands to be part of it. It seems the urge to spread the word about Townes Van Zandt continues to extend into more musical circles, his name always mentioned in reverential tones. My Proud Mountain have responded to the wishes and have put together another dream team for the second Songs Of Townes Van Zandt release which will see the light of day later this year. Taking on the dutiful challenge of covering Townes Van Zandt’s music this time will be John Baizley, singer and guitar player of Baroness, Nate Hall from US Christmas, and Mike Scheidt from YOB. Each musician approaching their favourite songs in their own personal way, paying homage to the original recordings and finding new ways to convey these well known songs and to deliver their lyrical content. In the interim, My Proud Mountain have created something extra special for Record Store Day 2013 on 20 April in the form of a collectible 10″ LP featuring four Townes Van Zandt songs – two unreleased songs and two previously released material also. Track-listing and annotation below: Side A: John Baizley – If I Needed You – first outtake from “Songs of Townes Van Zandt” to be released in 2013 Nate Hall – A Song For – unreleased a cappella / drone version Side B: Steve Von Till – The Spider Song – taken from “A Grave Is A Grim Horse” by Steve Von Till – released on Neurot Recordings 2008 Scott Kelly – St. John the gambler – taken from „Songs of Townes Van Zandt“ on My Proud Mountain 2012 John Baizley and Nate Hall will continue to support this 10″ and forthcoming full length by playing some shows in Europe, for some a first glimpse of the new material. John Baizley commented on his involvement: “Earlier this year, My Proud Mountain label approached me about contributing some tracks to the second “Songs of Townes Van Zandt” covers collection. While Baroness is preparing to resume touring, I am excited to come to Berlin and play music that our audience may be unfamiliar with me performing. I have always been an admirer and devotee of Townes, and I hope I can come and do some of his songs justice. This will be a unique opportunity for me.” As the next release takes shape we can celebrate and premiere some of the material as part of this exclusive showcase here: John Baizley feat. Katie Jones & Oldseed April 22nd GER – Berlin – HBC (exclusive German Show) 
