FREAKWATER’S CATHERINE IRWIN SHARES “MOCKINGBIRD” OFF LITTLE HEATER, OUT SEPTEMBER 18 ON THRILL JOCKEY

DOWNLOAD/STREAM CATHERINE IRWIN’S “MOCKINGBIRD”

Catherine Irwin, best known as the primary songwriter of Freakwater, is releasing her sophomore solo album and first in a decade on September 18th on Thrill Jockey. Over the years, Catherine’s singular writing skills and performance style have garnered praise from a range of artists, including Neko Case, Kelly Hogan, Califone, Jolie Holland, Steve Earle, Randy Newman, M. Ward, amongst others. Her work on Little Heater is no exception as her lyrics follow themes of old-time music – loss, despair, self-destruction, and delusion – but the references and turns of phrase are entirely modern as she aims her laser wit into the dark corners of the human condition throughout.

Recorded and produced by Tara Jane Oneil (Rodan, Ida) in Woodstock, NY, Little Heater combines raw and unadorned vocals with lush countrypolitan-style productions: gorgeous string sections, pedal steel guitar and dense layers of vocal harmonies. The album features Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, who lends his vocals to “Mockingbird” and “To Break Your Heart,” members of Ida on vocals and various instruments, and Marc Orleans on pedal steel, all of whom gently compliment Catherine’s southern gothic tales.

DOWNLOAD/SHARE/POST CATHERINE IRWIN’S “MOCKINGBIRD”:

http://bit.ly/MS1aDT

A mockingbird flew in through my backdoor and got stuck inside my house for a while. It seemed like he didn’t want to leave. He was just sitting in the middle of my bed yelling at me. When he finally flew back out, I saw that he had pooped psychedelic purple mulberry poop all over my bed. I am really afraid of birds so it seemed like some kind of an omen. French people think that it’s lucky if a bird poops on you. I am rather drawn to this kind of magical thinking.

Will Oldham and I did the vocals. I love singing with Will. His vocal range goes though the roof.He is a perfectionist with an amazing ability to recognize when the thing that has just occurred spontaneously is really the perfect thing.