Count the days
In between
The trips we took
And what it means
To know the difference between sitting still and holding on
Got a restless heart
And sleepless dreams
Some sightless visions
Of where we’d be
Yesterday and tomorrow are still too far
And I still don’t know the difference, do we stay right here, or move it on
We’re leaning out
We’re learning free
We’re gonna learn the difference between here and feeling free
Do you feel free?
Do you feel free?
Don’t know about you
Know less about me
Just know the distance
Between here and free
Yesterday and tomorrow might be too far
And I still don’t know the difference, do we stay right here, or move it on
Step to the right
Step to the left
Got a tightened feeling
Inside my chest
Yesterday and tomorrow are still too far
And I still don’t know the difference, do we stay right here, or move it on
We’re leaning out
We’re learning free
We’re gonna learn the difference between here and feeling free
Do you feel free?
Do you feel free?
I think we’re free
Do you feel free?
about
EXCLUSIVE TO BANDCAMP FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2023
Matt Clark: vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, Wurlitzer electric piano, acoustic piano, bass
&
Dan Littleton: acoustic lead guitar, mandolin, harmonium
Elizabeth Mitchell: vocals
Storey Littleton: vocals
Cindy Cashdollar: lap steel guitar
Gerald Dowd: drums
Recorded by Brandon Morrison and Dan Littleton at On-Me Sound, Woodstock, NY
Additional recording and mixing by Mark Greenberg at The Wilco Loft, Chicago, IL
Mastered by Todd Rittmann at The Shy Diamond, Chicago, IL
Summer & Fall, 2022
Photo by Matt Clark
Layout by Brian Case
OTHERPEACE is the new-ish nom-de-chanson of Matt Clark, the Chicago-based singer-songwriter and guitar player. He spent his formative years in Joan of Arc, and was a founding member of Pinebender, White/Light, Love of Everything, and Ambulette; he is also a longtime musical contributor to This American Life. He has collaborated with Kim Gordon, Leroy Bach, Disappears, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe/Lichens, and Rhys Chatham's Crimson Grail, and performed at The Cartier Foundation Paris, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Lincoln Center, Oprah, and Lollapalooza. Clark has received* two Grammys.
*His old roommate won them, and Clark signed for the delivery. RECEIVED. TWO. GRAMMYS.
--
Bob Mehr (NYT bestselling author, 'Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements' and Grammy winner, 'Dead Man's Pop' liner notes writer) on the OTHERPEACE LP "Capitalism Blues" via Instagram, 4/9/22:
A CONFESSION: This is a picture of me, caught by my wife, singing along (poorly) to my favorite new record.
Honestly, not a lot of new music has moved me lately. Probably a byproduct of the pandemic, which has had me craving familiar comforts (“Hello L.A.M.F., my old friend”). But a few months back I got an advance of the best thing I’ve heard, and been moved by, in ages: an album called “Capitalism Blues” by OTHERPEACE, the new project from Matt Clark.
Some of you–esp. Chicago folks–will know Matt as a guitarist (White/Light, Pinebender), a member of Joan of Arc, a musical contributor to “This American Life,” a collaborator with Kim Gordon. Despite what the indie-art punk-noise resume suggests, Matt went and made a roots record (for lack of a better term).
"Capitalism Blues" was cut at the Wilco Loft with Clark's longtime foil, Stephen “The Kid” Howard, as well as ace players from Wandering Boys, NRBQ, Electric Hawk, and was recorded & mixed by the great Mark Greenberg. Not sure if Matt will agree–what are records if not Rorschach tests for those listening–but “Capitalism Blues” sounds like it could be part of Neil Young’s Ditch Trilogy (a Quadrilogy?). Or what it would’ve sounded like if Warren Zevon had made a country record between his Imperial album and his Asylum debut.
It’s got some of that cosmic-narcotic-pastoral quality of Smog and Bonnie Prince Billy, but there’s something pure in how the record moves and plays. It has the feel of a certain kind of cinema: scripted by Rudy Wurlitzer, directed by Monte Hellman, with Matt as Warren Oates, sitting under a tree pondering fate: “I had both kinds of trouble yesterday/I didn’t choose existence, but I chose harm’s way."
The lyrics are funny, desperate, brooding and beautiful-with killer opening lines: “We were raised in the land of over-thinking/A piece of coastline and a whole lot of drinking/Always too hot, always too cold/Buying copper to sell as gold."
No point in me going on. I am confident you’ll get it once you listen.* “Capitalism Blues” by OTHERPEACE is available now on Bandcamp (link in bio).
*This record comes with the Bob Mehr Guarantee®: You'll enjoy it or you can pound sand."
AKA Matt Clark. Singer & songwriter. Guitar player for White/Light and Pinebender. Ex-Joan of Arc and Love of Everything. Musical contributor to This American Life.
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