Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Philadelphia-based Br’er releases single for “City of Ice” title track as tour continues.

Benjamin Schurr mixes industrial soundscapes, bittersweet lyrics on album out Tuesday.

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Benjamin Schurr of Br’er as photographed by Darian Scatton.

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“City of Ice” is the title track and the latest single from the new Br’er album City of Ice.

 



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Philadelphia-based musician Benjamin Schurr (recording under the name Br’er) is currently on tour in support of his latest album City of Ice, scheduled for release via the Edible Onion label this Tuesday, November 22nd. The title track from City of Ice is also the latest single from the album where bleak industrial soundscapes, bittersweet pop songwriting, and modern classical music are combined with the refined hand of a young, but experienced songwriter.

Sounding like a dark, electronic version of The Smiths or Bright Eyes produced by Trent Reznor, the songs on City of Ice focus on topics that tend to be marginalized in music such as abuse, displacement, and mental illness (although love and joy make appearances too).  Never-the-less, Br’er still manages to cover these topics in a way that commands repeat listening.

“Since Br’er is a personal coping mechanism for me, I really want the music to reflect the lyrics appropriately and to get the right sounds by any means necessary,” says Schurr. This meant either learning an instrument simply to satisfy the need for a specific part, or as Schurr states, to arrange for “musical one night stands” by recruiting players he’d meet at parties. Schurr would record them and typically never see them again.

City of Ice will be released on November 22nd, 2011 by Edible Onion Records. The album packaging contains a lyric and photography book held in cases covered in gel transfers on top of acrylic and watercolor washes. Each case is unique and hand numbered.  Benjamin Schurr is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Br’er On Tour

11/22 St. Louis, MO @ LEMP (3301 Lemp Ave.)
11/23 Nashville, TN @ Little Hamilton Collective (1318 Little Hamilton Ave.)
11/25 Murfreesboro, TN @ House Show (914 Ewing Blvd.) For Info: darian@edibleonion.com
11/26 Athens, GA @ The Plush Palace (260 N. Chase St.)
11/27 Macon, GA @ No Space (481 MLK)
11/28 Charleston, SC @ Communications Museum (58 George St.)
11/29 Greensboro, NC @ The Science House
11/30 Greenville, NC @ Tipsy (409 Evans St.)
12/01 Fredericksburg, VA @ Read All Over Books (307 William St.)
12/03 Washington, DC @ Red Palace (1212 H St. NE)

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Br’er
City of Ice
(Edible Onion – Nov. 22nd, 2011)


Track Listing:

01. I’ve Forgotten Nothing
02. Milk of Kindness
03. You Go, We Stay Here (STREAM | MP3)
04. Hope
05. Sea of Doubt
06. The Butcher
07. City of Ice (STREAM | MP3)
08. The Kissing Glove
09. Coersion
10. Safe Word
11. Oestrus

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Br’er Links


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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


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