Studio Sessions

Audio recording/mixing: Steven Kray, with technical assistance from Bill Ward

Video production: Jarratt Taylor
Video shooters: Jarratt Taylor / Neil Maknarakham / Anthony DelCalzo

Photos: Nathan Quigley

Interview: Jeremy Petersen

The last time Brent Knopf was in our studio it was in September 2010 as a part of Menomena, the dynamic three-headed musical monster with whom he would ultimately part ways a few months later.

The year previous to that Knopf had released the debut from his solo project Ramona Falls, Intuit, which found him collaborating with a large cast of Portland musical friends, including members of Loch Lomond, Talkdemonic, and The Helio Sequence, among others. The result was a solid if sometimes uneven first step, but still a step that suggested that Ramona Falls could well be more than a side project.

Prophet, the new release out recently on Barsuk, finds the cast pared back considerably with Knopf assembling a working, touring band that also plays on the recording in Paul Alcott, Dave Lowensohn, and Matt Sheehy (who's since made way for Brandon Laws). That context, not to mention the fact that Ramona Falls now has the distinction of being Knopf's main focus, seems to have made a lot of difference. Prophet is a more focused and assured collection, buoyed by Knopf's attempt to write from a more positive perspective, and by some surprisingly heavy moments of guitar sturm and drang (Knopf points out his love of metal as being the probable source).

Ramona Falls joined us ahead of a string of U.S. tour dates next month for a set of new songs.

For more on the new record, look no further than Knopf's illustrated and hilarious recount of Prophet-making.

 

 

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Audio Files