The Love Language’s Ruby Red (Merge) was supposed to be finished more than a year ago. “I can definitely overthink stuff,” says Stuart McLamb, the band’s singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and only full-time member. Over the next year, McLamb wound up throwing away some old songs, writing some new ones and recording the whole album all over again, bouncing between 21 musicians and four cities before he and co-producer B.J. Burton decided they were done. It was one of those times when recording was harder than writing, but now that it’s all in the past, McLamb describes himself as “genuinely happy.” McLamb will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand-new feature on the band.
McLamb: This is some of the most interesting music I’ve ever heard. They were a West African band, and my favorite stuff they did was in the early ’70s. The particular sessions I’m into are pretty murky and lo-fi. I’m not positive, but I’m guessing they used basic low-budget recording techniques and the recordings have this great stoney haze around them. The rhythm section sounds very mechanical but human all at once, like a J Dilla loop or something. They usually just lay down a repetitive groove, and then horns and guitars will take leads over the top. So there’s this really repetitive, central entrancing groove but with this beautiful, lively leads buzzing over top. And the vocalist Salif Kieta is so emotive. I have no idea what he’s singing about but overall the music is very romantic to me. It’s great to listen to at dusk with a glass of red wine and just let go of all the shit stressing you out and just let the music take you away. It’s so hard to talk about music. Just listen to it I guess.
Video after the jump.
