_A River Running to Your Heart_, the new album from Eric D. Johnson's
long-running folk rock outfit Fruit Bats, represents the fullest
realization of his creative vision to date. It’s a sonically diverse
effort that largely explores the importance of what it means to be home,
both physically and spiritually. And while that might seem like a
peculiar focus for an artist who’s constantly in motion, for Fruit
Bats, home can take many forms—from the obvious to the obscure. The
album will land in stores on CD, LP & Peak Vinyl LP (opaque blue & white
color vinyl) on April 14th, 2023.
Self-produced by Johnson—a first for Fruit Bats—with Jeremy Harris
at Panoramic House just north of San Francisco, it’s Fruit Bats’
tenth full-length release. The album finds the project in the middle of
a people-powered climb leading to the biggest shows, loudest accolades,
and most enthusiastic new fans in Fruit Bats history! It’s hard to
pinpoint a single reason for this mid-career resurgence. But after two
decades of making music, hard-earned emotional maturity has clearly
seeped into Johnson’s already inviting songs, resulting in a sound
that’s connected with audiences like no other previous version of the
band.
Johnson, also a co-founder of Grammy nominated outfit Bonny Light
Horseman, developed part of the album organically through long studio
jams with his ace back-up (guy 1 uy2 guy2). This is in sharp contrast to
his most foundational works, which would often sprout from 4-track demos
he recorded on his own. It makes these songs feel closer to what it's
like to see Fruit Bats live, where they can let loose a little & lean
into their hypnotic Dead-meets-Wilco psych pop impulses. First single
"Rushin' River Valley [3]" is a breezy, kinetic jam blending many
trademark elements of Fruit Bats' songwriting: a driving rhythm, subtle
instrumental layers, higher-intoned vocal range, a probing personal
dialogue, invigorating melodies, and chord progressions that slowly
build toward something—a feeling—bigger than each chord on its own.
...OUT 14 APRIL 2023!
PLEASE NOTE:
>>>If you would like your pre-orders (with different release dates) shipped separately—please order them separately.
If not, we will happily ship all your items, when the last title is released!
xo-tLc