North Star Deserter

the broad cast of players - all seven members of thee silver mt. zion memorial orchestra and tra-la-la band, along with guy picciotto (fugazi), bruce cawdron (godspeed you! black emperor) plus members of hanged up and frankie sparo amongst others - offered influences and approaches to vic's music that yielded a record unlike any other in his substantial discography. recorded over the winter of 2006-2007, at one of the last sessions to take place at the original hotel2tango location in montreal (the studio moved in spring 2007), we believe 'north star deserter' is the very best album vic chesnutt has yet made (while humbly acknowledging the boldness of such a statement). the songs on 'north star deserter' are some of the most bracing and intense we've ever heard from him: macabre and fearless, playful and funny, at times deeply personal and at others, incongruously hopeful. stripped-down songs like 'warm', 'rustic city fathers', 'over' and 'marathon' are juxtaposed with explosive rockers like 'everything i say' and 'debriefing', while 'glossolalia' and 'you are never alone' feature wonderful arrangements and group singing. double 180 gram vinyl with artwork by michael ackerman and jem cohen.