Raquel Bell – Photo Credit: David Marshall
The hypnotic and passionate “Swan” is the first song with video from SWANDALA, an upcoming solo album from experimental musician and dancer Raquel Bell (Normal Love, MESIKO). The LP is being released July 27th via STORBM. A native of Humboldt County, California, Bell is currently residing in Los Angeles after stints in Texas and New York City.
The songs on SWANDALA were written in a trailer on the Brazos River about 30 minutes Northwest of Waco in a small town called Gholson. The river and the sounds of deep Texas country living are deeply felt in the songs. The helicopters and traffic noise of New York City, where Bell had lived for 11 years prior to her move to Austin, were replaced with thunderstorms, gunshots, airboats, and coyotes. There was more space and time for longer compositions and to explore vocally what could never be expressed in the confines of a big city apartment.
After making demos in her trailer, Bell asked local musicians to take part of proper studio sessions. The core players were Lisa Cameron (ST37/Roky Ericson/Suspirians), Jonathan Horne (White Denim/Young Mothers), and Adam Jones (Bill Callahan). Thor Harris added essential vibraphone and percussion and Bob Hoffnar lent his extraordinary pedal steel work. Many other wonderful players graced particular tracks helping to create a varied and rich sound. Zac Traeger acted as music director and performed the incredible piano accompaniment on the final track, the vocally intense and expressive “Swan”.
