After releasing two full length albums under his own name, South Carolina native Austin Crane changed direction in 2010 releasing a self titled album under the moniker Valley Maker. The concept album featured 10 songs written as part of Crane’s senior thesis based on the biblical book of Genesis. A follow-up to that album has been much-anticipated by Austin Crane/Valley Maker fans, and earlier this summer Crane announced an August 10, 2013 release date.
Unlike the last album, the new Valley Maker album titled Yes I Know I’ve Loved this World is made up songs written over the past three years. Crane says the new album is about “coming to terms with various ideas and events in, around, before and beyond my (our?) existence and experiences.”
Yes I Know I’ve Loved this World will be released digitally August 10, 2013 through the Valley Maker website. The release show will coincide with the release date, taking place at New Brookland Tavern with support from Those Lavender Whales, Let’s Go, Coyote!, and Amy Godwin. Those Lavender Whales will also be releasing an EP this night.
Below are some of Austin’s words about each song, and the meaning and recording process behind them.
“By my side (everlasting life)” will be the first song on the new record. It shows some of the new directions we went in on this release, building on the last, in terms of percussion, guitar and vocal textures. The second, “Another way home,” was done in one take with a microphone between Amy and I, more directly in the vein of the previous Valley Maker record.
“Yes I know I’ve loved this world” features vocals by myself and Amy Godwin, who graced the previous Valley Maker record with her singing. It also has contributions from Columbia, SC long-time fellow-musicians and friends, including percussion by Caleb Weathersby, guitar by Nathan Poole, and bass by James Gibson. The album was recorded at Archer Avenue Studio (my fourth record there!) in July, 2013 with Kenny McWilliams, who contributed immensely to the album’s production and completion.
