__Sat Nov 3rd__ Misra recording artists Water Liars (oxford, ms), The Illegitimate Sons

Saturday November 3rd, 2012
Water Liars (oxford, ms)
The Illegitimate Sons
10PM
$5

Perhaps one of the greatest albums in Misra’s canon, Water Liars’debut was entirely unplanned. Recorded on a whim, with one microphone, the then unnamed two-piece rock band – consisting of St. Louis, MO songwriter, vocalist, guitarist Justin Kinkel-Schuster and Oxford, MS drummer, producer, multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bryant – casually convened to play and record.

Over the course of three days, in the small village of Pittsboro, MS, a series of magical recordings came together. It was one of those seemingly providential experiences – far too remarkable to be denied. Water Liars was born.

Paste, Pop Matters, Daytrotter, KEXP, and more have all hailed Justin Kinkel-Schuster during his tenure fronting independent rock act Theodore. Some time back, Misra planned to work with Theodore and, assuming the songs were mere outtakes under a different moniker, the Phantom Limb demos initially got pushed to the back burner. Kinkel-Schuster pleasantly persisted, however, insisting the project was vastly different and must be heard.

Upon first listen, it was very clear something truly remarkable really had occurred in the Phantom Limb sessions. Misra signed the band on the spot. Home to groundbreaking releases by Destroyer, Phosphorescent, Shearwater, Great Lake Swimmers, and more, the label is excited to extend this tradition with Water Liars.

After its sludgy intro, album opener “$100” blossoms into a weary, folk-pop gem. “Dog Eaten,” a gorgeous acoustic number highlighting Kinkel-Schuster’s inimitable voice – a trademark that earned him “Best Vocalist” via St. Louis main rag The Riverfront Times – immediately follows. Through its nine-song set, Phantom Limb continues on this unpredictable path – wavering from fast to slow, loud to quiet, but never once losing its magnetism.

Songs like “Whoa Back,” “Rest,” and “Fresh Hell” captivate the listener until “On the Day” – a celestial, melancholic track about one’s deathday – closes the album and an inadvertent field recording is heard in the background. It’s a beautiful, fortuitous ending to Water Liars’ beautiful, fortuitous debut. Enjoy!

“Pissed energy packed with solemn depression, leaning on the sides of agression and beautiful compassion and brokenness to an effect that makes all of the force feel and sound wonderfully wounded.”

– Daytrotter

“It is heartbreaking material, especially when savored alone — song’s reminiscent of writers like Raymond Carver and Flannery O’connor.”

– Paste Magazine – “Best of What’s Next”

“Hypnotic and singular — complex characters at war with themselves in a heartland of darkness.”

– PopMatters – “Best of 2010” – awarded to Theodore (a band fronted by Justin K-S)

“Best Vocalist in St. Louis”