When the three members of Quilt arrived in New York City in April to begin the intensive recording process for their second album, the new and aptly named Held in Splendor, out January 28th on Mexican Summer, they stepped directly into spring. Anna Fox Rochinski, Shane Butler and John Andrews had spent much of the previous several months clutched away at “The Puritan Garage” in Boston’s Charlestown, shielding themselves from a winter of blizzards with the haven of their practice space and a set of fresh songs.Since the release of their 2011 self-titled debut on Mexican Summer, they’d become more than kids just out of college. They’d become a bona fide hard-touring band, with stories to share from the road and experiences to distill into the narrative of new music.
Whereas their first album was made mostly for free and mostly by friends over the course of a year of starts and stops, in sessions that captured the early and elemental and exciting efforts of a band finding its footing, Quilt entered the proper in-house studio located beneath the Mexican Summer offices in Brooklyn for this one. They’d allocated a solid month for recording, and they clocked full days, every day, with Woods member and producer Jarvis Taveniere.
The approach was wide-open: They tuned drums and recorded the same song with multiple microphone set-ups. They added bass and invited friends who added saxophone and violin, cello and steel guitar. They built this album together. Held in Splendor is an album of personal poetry and public questions, confessions and aspirations-really, these 13 tracks are their own playground, brimming with the sort of unapologetic energy and wonder that turns simple songs into absolute anthems.
They’re sharing the first track off Held in Splendor, “Arctic Shark,” which will also be released as a 7″ single, available for digital purchase and physical pre-order now.
Visit QUILTS on Bandcamp or on Facebook.
QUILT TOUR DATES:
Monday, Nov. 11 – Burlington, VA @ Signal Kitchen w/ Happy Jawbone Family Band
Wednesday, Nov. 13 Montreal, QC @ Le Cagibi w/ Happy Jawbone Family Band
Thursday, Nov. 14 – Boston, MA @ T.T. The Bears w/ Happy Jawbone Family Band
Friday, Nov. 15 – Brooklyn, NY @ 285 Kent w/ Happy Jawbone Family Band
Saturday, Nov. 16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ Happy Jawbone Family Band
Sunday, Nov. 17 – Washington, DC @ DC9 w/ Happy Jawbone Family Band