Artist (Musical Collective): Serendipity Club
Release Name: Wide
Label: Murmuring Records
Cat No: MRMR001
Release Date: March 04, 2017
Contact: info@murmuringrecords.com
01. Serendipity Club – “Whist”
02. Serendipity Club – “Noche”
03. Serendipity Club – “Streets I Am”
04. Serendipity Club – “Viennese”
Wide [EP]
Wide marks the debut of both musical collective, Serendipity Club and emerging label, Murmuring Records. Rooted in ambient downtempo/chill-out, the EP draws inspiration from found objects and field recordings. Hints of Bonobo merge with memories of Thievery Corporation. “I wanted Wide to reflect a broad range of moods and stories,” reflects Serendipity Club producer Beth Burnett, “and as it emerged, it became more beat-forward and experimental than I expected.”
Serendipity Club’s follow-up EP, Open, due March 16, 2017, is expected to reveal a more muted range of ambient downtempo/chill-out.
01 – Whist
“Whist” started with a friend in London rummaging vinyl in “Three For a Buck” bins. He sampled a drum break from one of his found treasures. “I sliced up the break,” explains Burnett, “and combined it with a whistle melody I’d accidentally pitched up a couple octaves. The result was this oddly ephemeral, almost dreamy sound that I really fell in love with.”
02 – Noche
Propelled by an upright bassline laid down by Liam Sullivan, “Noche” has a sensual Latin vibe. “Many, many layers were added,” according to Beth Burnett. “There must have been 60 tracks, maybe more,” making “Noche” a daunting mix for Matthew Girard. Burnett’s husband, Robin created a video for the track, reflecting the mood.
03 – Streets I Am
“Streets I Am” features a wide palette of world samples and found-object percussion. Upon hearing it, a friend of Serendipity Club wrote, “Sounds like Satie getting a bit smashed in a souk and trying to get everybody to join in making music with whatever is at hand.” We take that as a complement.
04 – Viennese
“I was in an antique shop in Portsmouth and found this dusty old 78, recorded in 1914,” explains Burnett. “so I brought it home, put it on my hand-crank Victrola and sampled it. As I worked with it, I kept wondering, ‘who was this woman singer – with this beautiful voice?'” Only after the song was finished did Beth realize the Victrola was set to the wrong speed, making the voice seem a woman’s when in fact it is that of famous Irish tenor John McCormack, singing “Lullaby from Jocelyn.” Serendipity works in strange ways.
“Viennese” features collaboration with Brian E. King, Stu Dietz and Liz McBride of Boston’s Parks.