Br'er to release new album

“You Go, We’ll Stay Here” is the first single from the upcoming Br’er album City of Ice.
http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/brer/mp3/brer-yougowellstayhere.mp3



Philadelphia-based songwriter Benjamin Schurr (recording under the name Br’er) will release City of Ice, the follow-up to Br’er’s 2007 album Of Shemales and Kissaboos via the Edible Onion label on November 22nd. The first single from the album “You Go, We’ll Stay Here” is now available for free download.



Schurr’s influences range from the dark songwriting of Leonard Cohen and Michael Gira of Swans to 60’s pop and even the sounds of Philadelphia itself, with Schurr explaining that “The sounds and rhythms of the trains are what influenced the album’s percussion.” On City of Ice these bleak industrial soundscapes, bittersweet pop songwriting, and modern classical music are combined with the refined hand of a young, but experienced songwriter.



Schurr’s sensitivity to his surroundings is what makes City of Ice such compelling 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. While extreme, this method served his mandate to honor the vulnerable subject matter on the album.



Like a dark, electronic version of The Smiths or Bright Eyes produced by Trent Reznor, the songs on City of Ice are also similar to those artists by satisfying the listener’s need for intensely personal songs containing universal truths and accessible melodies. Focusing on topics that tend to be marginalized such as abuse, displacement, and mental illness (love and joy make appearances too), Br’er manages to still wrap it in a way that commands repeat listening.



City of Ice comes packaged in a double gatefold CD sleeve built out of recycled paper, with an attached booklet containing lyrics and photography. The sleeve is housed in handmade cases covered in gel transfers of photography used in the album artwork on top of acrylic and watercolor washes. Each one is unique and hand numbered.



City of Ice will be released on November 22nd, 2011 by Edible Onion Records.


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

04. Hope

05. Sea of Doubt

06. The Butcher

07. City of Ice

08. The Kissing Glove

09. Coersion

10. Safe Word

11. Oestrus