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about
Dismembered is the first release in what Joe Andrew describes as a new start, finding his footing again after an accident in 2018 involving his hand.
The injury resulted in only partial use of his fretting fingers, usually the kiss of death for any guitarist. Assuming he would never play again, Andrew's output as a songwriter stopped altogether. It wasn't until he challenged himself to learn compositions by the great American Primitive pioneer John Fahey that he discovered a way to not only play the guitar again (using open tunings and two-finger chord shapes) but also a powerful new mode that suited his innate approach to songwriting. This new mode emphasized the drone of the open strings, and Joe Andrew's songwriting channeled that drone to dwell in the darker, doom-twinged corners of the psych folk landscape.
Joe Andrew began testing a new batch of songs at a series of house salons in his home city of Chicago, which were curated by the legendary multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Jim Becker (CALIFONE, IRON & WINE, AIR BLUE GOWNS). Soon Andrew began recording basic tracks at Becker's studio, and their roles naturally developed into co-producers on an upcoming Joe Andrew studio album, currently in production.
Dismembered is the first song to stem from these sessions. It features Becker playing a haunted piano over his wailing feedback-drenched fiddle, the talented Meredith Nesbitt (SHOULDERBIRD) on electric bass and cello, and Andrew's friend Matt Espy (DEAD RIDER, DRAG CITY) laying down a seismic drum part earning him the "Bonham of Brushes" title.
Espy in fact was the inspiration for the song after he recounted his experience of being invited to the prestigious Cliff Dweller's Club in downtown Chicago. Joe Andrew imagined this century-old private club in the mid-apocalyptic future, writing letters to its occupants to suss out who exactly resides there as the streets burn - blue haired aristocrats or vampires?
lyrics
I hope this finds you well
up on those cliffs where you dwell
what I mean is it a good time
are you in the sitting room
blowing softly on a spoon
marrow so sweet it should
be a crime
All night long
you only wanted to
all life long
you only wanted to
you only wanted to
belong
To whom it may concern
who’s watching barricades slow burn
from up high without batting an eye
are you tipping back vermouth
or the nectar of the tooth
is that a tourniquet
or a silken tie
Chatting up your trophy wife
catching impressions of the life
in the sunless hereafter
vicarious and vain
and by all accounts insane
compensating with fits of
nervous laughter
All night long
we only wanted to
all life long
we only wanted to
we only wanted to
belong
You will do anything
to keep up pretending
you will do anything
to keep from being dismembered
I swore I’d never join a club
that would extend a snowy glove
and make a member of
the everyoung
500 years ago today
distinguished guests chased me away
when they found the ear of that
girl up on my tongue
All night long
I only wanted to
all life long
I only wanted to
I only wanted to
belong
credits
released June 7, 2023
Joe Andrew - guitar, vocals
Jim Becker - piano, violin, noise
Meredith Nesbitt - bass, cello
Matt Espy - drums
Written by Joe Andrew
Engineered by Jim Becker
Produced by Jim Becker & Joe Andrew
Mastered by Todd Rittmann at Shy Diamond
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