Right I know, there is a bit of a theme developing this week - but having seen them live last weekend, and sat and watched their glorious set from Glastonbury this afternoon - I have decided that Alvvays will be the kick off point for the latest instalment of Six Degrees Of Kevin Shields.
Yes, we will once more head off on our musical meanderings, using the Canadian quintet as our starting point. Who know who we will bump into along the way as we try and end up at the door of the King of Shoegaze, Kevin Shields.
Alvvays were formed in 2011 by Molly Rankin (daughter of John Morris Rankin of family Celtic folk group, the Rankin Family) with partner and guitarist, Alec O'Hanley. Following on from her low key release of some solo work in 2010, they got the band going and recruited her neighbour Kerri MacLellan (from their home in Mabou, Nova Scotia) as the keyboard player.
The band moved to Toronto, playing and writing, whilst working day jobs, getting support slots for acts like Peter Bjorn and John, and The Decemberists. They were eventually signed to Polyvinyl Records after their South By Southwest (SXSW) festival appearance. Their self-titled album came out in 2014, which was described by Simon Vozick-Levinson in Rolling Stone as an "indie pop wonder."
Alvvays: Adult Diversion (Live on KCRW)
The Decemberists started up in Portland, Oregon, in 2000 and currently consist of Colin Meloy (vocals / guitar), Chris Funk (guitar), Jenny Conlee (keyboards), Nate Query (bass) and John Moen (drums). They have released nine albums to date, with lyrical themes focusing strongly on folklore and history. They also put a lot of effort into their stagecraft, turning gigs almost into theatrical performances, with lots of audience participation. The band name comes from the Decemberist Revolt from 1825, in Imperial Russia - something they felt conjured up 'drama and melancholy'.
They got signed to Capitol Records in 2005, with their major label debut being The Crane Wife (based on a Japanese folk tale). It was produced by Tucker Martine and Chris Walla (of Death Cab For Cutie). On the same day the record was released (3 October 2006) they appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien performing O Valencia! Many of their tours over the years have been given interesting names, with that one being called The Rout Of The Patagons.
The Decemberists: O Valencia! (Live on Conan, 2006)
Tucker Martine is the son of country-pop singer / songwriter Layng Martine, whose song Way Down was a million seller for Elvis. He moved from Nashville, where he grew up, to Colorado, where he became a DJ at a public radio station, also studying sound collage at Naropa Institute (Boulder, CO). Later he moved to Seattle and, amongst other things, joined a chamber group, released collaborative albums as Mount Analog and Mylab and Orchestra Dim Bridges. But he also got a job with Microsoft, composing start up and branding sounds for Windows Vista.
As a engineer he worked on many records, including REM's Collapse Into Now, and has worked with a wide range of artists as a producer, with highlights including; Rosanne Cash (She Remembers Everything), My Morning Jacket (The Waterfall / Circuital), Camera Obscura (Desire Lanes), Mudhoney (Under A Billions Suns / The Lucky Ones) and even The Chieftans (Voice Of Ages).
Mudhoney: Tales Of Terror (Live in Sydney, 2011 - dedicated to the Sacramento band of the same name, considered one of the inspirations for grunge)
Desire Lines was the fifth album by Scots indie popsters Camera Obscura, which came out in 2013 on 4AD. It was produced in Portland, Oregon, by Tucker Martine, and features guest vocals by Neko Case and Jim James (My Morning Jacket).
It was the last to include keyboard player Carey Lander who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma early on in the recording process (2011). Singer Tracyanne Campbell said that she found songwriting hard as a result, but Lander insisted that the album get finished. Sadly, Lander died in October 2015, but not before she managed the complete the album and subsequent tour.
Fred Thomas of AllMusic said the resultant album was "another instalment of brilliant pop", while Hal Horowitz in American Songwriter said "these songs soar, glide and seem effortless in their innocent simplicity." In terms of the production (to keep the previous link going), Gareth Ware (This Is Fake DIY) referred to it as "a rich, clearly well thought out and measured Tucker Martine production."
Camera Obscura: Do It Again (Live on KCRW, 2013)
Jim James, sometimes known as Yim Yames, is the guitarist and singer for Kentucky's My Morning Jacket. He appeared as the band leader in the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There - singing Going To Acapulco, with Calexico as his backing band.
In another link back, he has also provided vocals for The Decemberists (on The Hazards Of Love album). He is also a member of supergroup of sorts, Monsters Of Folk, with Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), M.Ward and producer / engineer Mike Mogis.
James worked up the seven part harmonies for the tune Ozu Choral on Brian Reitzell's debut solo album Auto Music in 2014.
Brian Reitzell: Ozu Choral (Audio only)
Brian Reitzell is best known for his film and TV soundtracks, especially working for Sofia Coppola on films like The Virgin Suicides, Lost In Translation and Marie Antoinette. Prior to that, he had been the drummer with LA punks Redd Kross. He would also spend some time with French electro-pop outfit Air, on their Moon Safari tour.
To wrap this little journey up - who is it that contributes organ to the Auto Music album?
You've guessed it, it's Reitzell's friend and collaborator, Kevin Shields.