Mimi Goese and Ben Neill - Songs for Persephone

Mimi Goese and Ben Neill - Five years in the making, this ambitious work of grand art/pop is a compelling and dramatic synthesis of Neill's sweeping electronica and swelling symphonic layers utilizing touchstones of 19th century romantic classics mixed with Goese's captivating vocals and lyrics: think Cocteau Twins meet Bat for Lashes...the project was originally commissioned for the NY indie stage and presented to rave reviews last year... // Release: Songs for Persephone (August 30) // Sounds like: what could have been a cerebral exercise in arty excess is instead a work of vividly emotional power and goose-bump inducing beauty...(hint: check out "Roma" below at around the 45 second mark)... // Quote: "At its bewitching best the production evokes a French neoclassical painting that has magically bloomed into three dimensions… shimmery electro-pop songs sung by Ms. Goese in a throaty voice that recalls Kate Bush and a number of other alt-radio goddesses." NY Times //What we like: Lead track "Roma" glows and glimmers with layers of brass, strings, synths and Goese's celestial singing on a melody that gently takes the top of your head off while you look up happily to see your cerebellum drift away...Watch the EPK and read the full bio below...

Mimi Goese and Ben Neill - "Roma" (from Songs for Persephone)

ongs for Persephone is a collaboration between Mimi Goese and Ben Neill that combines Goese’s emotionally charged vocals and lyrics with Neill’s uniquely hi-tech musical instrumentation. Inspired by the expressive possibilities of new technology as well as the natural beauty of New York’s Hudson Valley and the Hudson River School of painting, Goese and Neill started with a fragment of a different 19th century romantic piece as the foundation for each of their songs. Reflecting the increasing influence of classical music in the work of contemporary artists such as The National, Sufjan Stevens and the Decemberists, Goese and Neill reference Mahler, Berlioz, Bruckner, and others of the Romantic era to create a new form of lyricism that is distinctly contemporary, but colored with the dynamics and patina of the old music filtered through digital processing.

The end result is a heady musical blend of sounds that ranges from the chilled-out electronica of Air and Miike Snow to the symphonic grandeur of Sigur Ros, M83, Band of Horses, and Mew. Goese’s lyrics bring an emotional power that reflects her fascination with nature and contemplative thought, themes that exemplify the 19th century romantic sensibility. Songs for Persephone creates an ideal vehicle for Goese’s powerfully evocative vocal and performance style, as well as for Neill’s performance on his self-designed instrument, the mutantrumpet.

The songs on the album are taken from the duo’s music theater piece Persephone, recently premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival 2010. Goese and Neill were commissioned by BAM to create the lushly staged work with multimedia company Ridge Theater. Persephone co-starred actress Julia Stiles with book by Tony award winning playwright Warren Leight, and grew out of the 19th century themes that Goese and Neill were exploring in the music.

The record will be released in various formats including a limited edition, one-of-a-kind package co-designed by the artists with visual artist Simon Draper. The concept for the package is taken from the lyrics to the song “A Lovely Goodbye” and is made using primarily recycled materials. It can be hung on the wall as an artwork after removing the USB key with all of the media. Customized packages that incorporate fans’ designs will also be available. The complete media set includes films from the BAM production by Bill Morrison as well as instrumental music that is not included on the CD and other video material.

Goese and Neill first performed together in New York City following the release of Goese’s Soak CD (Luaka Bop). They began collaborating on Songs for Persephone in 2006. The idea of basing a set of contemporary songs on 19th century romantic works had a complex evolution. Neill has been exploring the expressive possibilities of interactive electronic performance for years in his instrumental music, and wanted to bring a stronger focus on that aesthetic by using songs to reach a larger audience. Both Neill and Goese had moved to the Hudson Valley from New York City in recent years, and the natural beauty of the area was an inspiration for them both. The same awesome vistas that inspired the Hudson River School painters and then served as the birthplace of the environmental movement are at the heart of the music. Many of the lyrics are reflections on the landscape, and the song World’s End is named for a particular spot on the Hudson River.

This fascination with the natural world and bringing a more emotional quality to electronic media led to sampling musical works from the 19th century, the period in which the focus on human expression was at its height as was the idea of nature inspiring creativity. The 19th century emphasis on passion over rational thinking, the awareness of the diminishing wilderness, the broadening of the audience for music, an explosion in new instrument technologies, and the use of narrative in instrumental musical forms all resonate strongly with our time and are reflected in the music that Goese and Neill have created.

Goese is known as the lead singer/co-songwriter of Hugo Largo, the critically acclaimed minimalist punk/pop group who released two albums on Brian Eno’s Opal label in the ’80s. After touring with musician/producer Hector Zazou and co-writing/singing on the Moby album Everything is Wrong, Goese’s solo album Soak was released by Luaka Bop, David Byrne’s label.

Neill is a composer, performer, producer, and inventor of the mutantrumpet, a hybrid electro-acoustic instrument. He has recorded eight CDs of his music on labels including Universal/Verve, Thirsty Ear, Astralwerks and Six Degrees. His most recent CD Night Science was released in 2009 on Thirsty Ear.

Aside from their recent sold-out week of performances at BAM, Goese and Neill have performed at such venues as World Financial Center, Etnafest in Catania, Italy, Bard College Summerscape Festival and the Festa Serralves in Porto, Portugal.

“Styles make fights” is often stated by boxing commentators describing what makes a great boxing match. I feel the same has to be said for the new project by Mimi Goese and Ben Neill. Two very distinct artistic approaches dancing around the ring in perfect harmony. Mimi’s soaring vocals provide the knockout punch while Ben’s mutantrumpet throws out a relentless beautiful jab. I am very honored to sit ringside.” Dolphus Ramseur