Doveman Archives - Various Small Flames

Melissa Mary Ahern – Maria, Maria

Jon Doyle — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 18:48:07 +0000

Melissa Mary Ahern first garnered attention with her appearance on Doveman’s mix of Sufjan Stevens’s Christmas rarity ‘Lonely Man of Winter’. Released last winter on Asthmatic Kitty Records. The track introduced the voice of the Brooklyn-based songwriter, somehow both delicate and weathered, the sincerity of the track cut by a certain rasp in their sound.

Although being part of musical scenes in both New York and Berlin, it is only now that Melissa Mary Ahern is formally releasing her own music. After a collaboration with Doveman back in 2018, two singles emerged that showed different sides to Ahearn’s talents. The slow drift of ‘World of Wonder’ played as a sunset reflection, memories cast with a new fondness in the golden light, while ‘Next To You’ injected a soulful pop edge. Shaking around wordless hums and finger-clicked rhythm, the track hinted at a moody edge, memories with the claws left on.

Today sees the release of a brand new single. If the Doveman collaboration led to cool contemporary tracks, then the new song is altogether more timeless. A love ballad revolving around the titular character, ‘Maria, Maria’ is carved out of the folk tradition, its earthy tones owing as much to the landscape as the love in question. There are hints of Angel Olsen and Adrianne Lenker’s solo writing in the song’s disarming simplicity—the plucked guitar and ambling percussion supporting a warm croon, leading to something barefoot and intimate.

You can find Melissa Mary Ahern on Spotify and Instagram.

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The Perennials announce debut EP on Brassland with two singles

Jon Doyle — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 17:22:36 +0000

The Perennials are Pete and Amanda Wells, a twenty-something couple who met as teenagers in an Italian Bible study school before uniting as a band in Spokane, WA. Since relocating to Brooklyn to work with Thomas Bartlett (AKA Doveman), the duo are set to release their debut EP via Brassland, the label run by Alec Hanley Bemis and The National’s Dessner twins. In preparation for the Autumn release, the band have put out two singles to give us a taste of what the EP has in store, complete with videos by nature photographer and Instagram ‘star’ Cory Crawford, who the band call a friend.

The first, ‘Breadcrumbs’, which premiered on Brooklyn Vegan back in May, finds Amanda Wells take the vocal lead on what is a fleet-footed and ultimately cathartic song. Doveman provides piano and supporting brass arrangements to give the track a glorious depth, transforming it from an indie rock anthem into something far more developed. Variety and intricacy and poetic lyrics coalesce around the central drive to create something intuitive and considered.

“Pebbles, scattered freely
through forests of green leaves
glow like stars in the meadow
when the moon shines bright
they will lead us home”

Second track, ‘Miss Marionette’, finds Pete Wells at the helm, his striking baritone vocals channelling Cash and Berninger to create a dense, intimate atmosphere, like the heavy summer air before an electrical storm.

The EP is set for release later this year. While you wait you can pick up ‘Breadcrumbs’ from the Brassland website or The Perennials Bandcamp page.

Photo by Tamara Weber

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New Sharon van Etten LP!

Jon Doyle — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:12:43 +0000

Good news! Sharon van Etten, the ridiculously talented songwriter behind ’Because I Was In Love’ and 2010’s extended EP/short album ’Epic’, is to release her next full length album, Tramp, on the 7th February (2012, obviously) on Jagjaguwar.

What’s more, she has enlisted the help of a rather spectacular group of friends to feature and aid her in recording. Aaron Dessner (The National), Matt Barrick (The Walkmen), Zach Condon (Beirut), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak), Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) and Julianna Barwick will all contribute. I would be keen to hear any release of hers but this dream-team, consisting of several of the most experience and accomplished figures in contemporary indie rock, should make this new record unmissable.

Tracklisting:

1. Warsaw
2. Give Out
3. Serpents
4. Kevin’s
5. Leonard
6. In Line
7. All I Can
8. We Are Fine
9. Magic Chords
10. Ask
11. I’m Wrong
12. Joke or a Lie

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