“Equal parts Ennio Morricone, Lee Hazelwood, and Nick Cave with a touch of Chris Isaak’s less romantic side… few if any artists are brave and/or creative enough to channel this ghostly, often ominous vibe into moving, sensual and stirring music” ~ American Songwriter
"Their most immersive and varied album to date, Collin Hegna and his merry band of music-makers take us on a fantastic journey... and on ‘Heaven Forgive Me’, Hegna channels the post-punk vibes of such bands as The Church, Pink Turns Blue and The Mission to our delight" ~ The Spill Magazine
Portland-based outfit Federale presents 'No Strangers', which pays homage to Lee Hazlewood. This is the second single from their 'Reverb & Seduction' album, out this summer via Jealous Butcher Records. Earlier, the band released the lead track 'Heaven Forgive Me', featuring The Black Angels' Alex Maas on backing vocals.
Joining in this Hazlewood tribute are Dave Mudie (drummer for The Dandy Warhols' Courtney Barnett), Andrew Joslyn (Nancy Wilson, Kei$ha, Macklemore, Leslie Odom Jr., Mark Lanegan) on strings, and Hunter Lea (Grammy nominated Nancy Sinatra / Lee Hazlewood re-issue producer) on harpsichord.
In the 20 years of their existence, Federale has carved out a unique niche within the indie music landscape, blending their signature spaghetti-Western instrumental sound with increasing doses of moody vocal arrangements in the spirit of Lee Hazlewood and late-period Leonard Cohen. Through it all, songwriter and lead singer Collin Hegna – who also spent the last 20 years as a dues-paying member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre – maintains a strictly retro vibe. Federale's records have always sounded period-correct for an alternate-universe 1971, where rock and roll never caught on.
Their sixth studio album, 'Reverb & Seduction' marks the band’s twentieth anniversary. The band’s most immersive and varied album to date, with do-it-all frontman Collin Hegna at the height of his powers, this is a tour-de-force road trip from psych rock to country duets, never straying too far from the spaghetti western roots that inspired the band many blood-moons ago.
“'No Strangers' is an ode to the story songs of Lee Hazlewood. But this time our narrator is on a warpath. Like the leader of a biker gang or a band of musical outlaws, our protagonist rolls into town a Stranger and finds the hypocritically self righteous town folks are none too happy to see him. This doesn't worry him though, because our antihero plans to even the scales in any way necessary. Musically the marriage of strings, pedal steel and reverbed-out guitars transports us to a nondescript time and a nondescript place that is definitely in the past and definitely in the desert. It may be a rugged, dangerous place. But it sure sounds cool. Too bad The Stranger had to burn it all down in the end," says Collin Hegna.
"Each Federale release has sought to embrace influences ever farther afield from the band’s original concept as an ode to Spaghetti Western film music. But one aesthetic constant (as far as non-instrumental songs go) has been the dark, narrative driven folk ballad".
Comprising 10 tracks, 'Reverb & Seduction' was recorded at Revolver Studios in Portland and engineered by Collin Hegna, Matt Thomson and Andrew Joslyn, who boasts five 5 Grammy Award winning albums. Mixed by Jeff Stuart Saltzman (The Black Keys, The High Violets), Matt Thomson and Collin Hegna, this album was mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering.
These new musical homages are complemented by a new lineup of well-known Portland rock-scene vets, including talents from The Shivas, Roselit Bone, Dandy Warhols, Rogue Wave and Delines. Going forward, Federale expects to fully embrace the role of a working, touring band, starting with a West Coast tour timed to coincide with the new record's July release. A European tour will follow in late fall 2024.
As of May 22, 'No Strangers' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Band camp. The full 'Reverb & Seduction' album, which can be pre-ordered now, will be released on July 12 via Jealous Butcher Records, available on CD and vinyl wherever fine records are sold.
SINGLE CREDITS
Written, arranged and produced by Collin Hegna
Mixed by Jeff Stuart Saltzman
Mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering
Recording Engineering - Collin Hegna, Matt Thomson, Andrew Joslyn
Recorded at Revolver Studios in Portland, OR
Dave Mudle - drums
Rick Pedrosa - pedal Steel & Guitar
Andrew Joslyn - strings
Hunter Lea - harpsichord
Collin Hegna - all other Instruments, percussion & vocals
Released by Jealous Butcher Records
Management: Andy Ross @ Exit Strategy Productions
Publicity: Shauna McLarnon @ Shameless Promotion PR
Video created by Little Richard’s Almanac, animated by Ron Laboray and Niki Elliott
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