adam
Great album, working with an expanded sonic palette while staying rooted in rock-solid songwriting and musicianship. Thrilled to get a studio version of The Blackest Crow!
Favorite track: The Blackest Crow.
A bittersweet nostalgia lies at the heart of Imaginary People, the new album from indie roots duo Viv & Riley. Over ten tracks, the pair applies an indie folk sheen to newly composed pop gems, a reworking of an ancient ballad, and even an original fiddle tune, deftly weaving together the old and new. In contrast to the sunny, lush production from Alex Bingham of Hiss Golden Messenger, the lyrics lean melancholic. “Kygers Hill” and “Sauvie Island” are both wistful odes to locales where these two young master musicians spent formative years developing a penchant for songwriting. “Is It All Over'' lampoons the futility of the billionaire space race through a darkly comedic vision of a future music industry, while the title track expounds on the “imaginary” versions of our idealized selves. Viv & Riley fittingly end the album with a droning take on the traditional Ozark tale “The Blackest Crow.” Both musicians trace their original artistic inspiration to the deep roots music they learned in their youths on opposite sides of the country. The duo’s continuing musical expansion is in part the fruition of their investment in the music scene of their new home of Durham, NC which is known for its cross-genre collaboration and creatively articulated roots music. However, the tracklist is still peppered with pedal steel and the rootsy fiddle and banjo trappings the pair employed to acclaim on their previous two releases. As much as Imaginary People looks back to nostalgic yesteryears, it importantly marks the beginning of a new direction for these songwriting virtuosos.
credits
released September 15, 2023
Produced by Alex Bingham
Recorded by Alex Bingham at Bedtown Studios
Mixed by Saman Khoujinian
Mastered by Carl Saff
Photos and design by Chris Frisina
Vivian Leva - vocals, acoustic guitar, ice cubes
Riley Calcagno - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, high strung guitar, fiddle, banjo
Alex Bingham - bass, synthesizers, MPC
Andy Stack - drums, acoustic guitar, organelle, pump organ
Sam Fribush - keyboards, banjo, ice cubes
Whit Wright - pedal steel
Bucket Bingham - vocals
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Alex for being such an inspiring and supportive collaborator and friend. Thank you to Andy for all the incredible contributions in music and energy (and for being so easy to beat at ping pong). Thank you to Sam and Whit for your tonal tastiness. Thank you to Saman for mixing this music so creatively, patiently, and right. Thank you to Carl for the brilliant master.
Thank you to Chris for the fantastically creative design work and flattering photos. Thanks to Carley for being such a great buddy throughout the making of the record. Big love to the best pups Bucket and Mabel for their sweet companionship. To our respective parents, Carol Elizabeth, James, Karen, Johnny, thank you for your love, friendship, opinions, and support.
Thank you to our many friends who lent an ear or hang during the writing and making of this record, including Luan, Eila, Lucy, Maya, Sami, Leo, Sam, Reed, Tati, Sonya, and many more. Thank you also to Kathi and Michael for giving us such a sweet spot to live during much of the writing of this record.
Thank you so much to our team on this release: Mollie, Chris, Jonathan, and the whole team at Free Dirt for your hard work in getting this project out into the world.
To anyone who listens to these songs and finds a place for them in your world, thank you.
Kygers Hill and Imaginary People written by Vivian Leva
Sauvie Island, The General, Is It All Over and Flashing Lights written by Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno
How to Lose and Chance Creek written by Riley Calcagno
The Blackest Crow, traditional, arranged by Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno. Inspired by the wonderful version from Kim & Jim Lansford. Taught to Riley by his Dad, Johnny Calcagno.
A bittersweet nostalgia lies at the heart of Imaginary People, the new album from indie roots duo Viv & Riley. Over ten
tracks, the pair applies an indie folk sheen to newly composed pop gems, a reworking of an ancient ballad, and even an original fiddle tune, deftly weaving together the old and new. The record was produced by Alex Bingham of Hiss Golden Messenger....more
supported by 41 fans who also own “Imaginary People”
Great choice of music, expertly played and sung. Nicely produced. I hope to see The Onlies live, asap. This is an album I listen to over and over. Karamogo
supported by 24 fans who also own “Imaginary People”
Sierra Ferrell's music is the nectar that drips from vocal chords of angels on ecstacy and percocet, dripping with honey, and smelling of grandma's brownies. It has been proven to "cure what ails ya", and it temporarily wards off the existential dread that is slowly encompassing us all. Don't let the absurdity of our existence get you down. Listen to Sierra Ferrell instead.
I am me and I approved this message. oldmanj716