Quiet Takes – Regrets Only
Quiet Takes is the stage name of songwriter Sarah Magill, who hails from the Northern climes in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She has put out a new album this year, and has rerecorded one of the songs live and is releasing it this week, “Meri Said.”
About “Meri Said,” which is nestled midway through he album, Sarah recounts: “I went back into the “studio,” aka the living room of producer Zach Hanson (Bon Iver, S. Carey, Gordi), to capture a live take on this track. The video transports that living room setting to a serene forest trail, thanks to the help of video creators Erik and Sarah Elstran.” Check out this live version of “Meri Said,” here:
There’s a lot to sift through in the lyrics, which are best savored by listening: “Trying to get down to the metamorphic core of it (Floating slack in tidal pools), Trying to get down to the metaphoric war of it (Making titles into tombs.)” The video juxtaposes what appear to be studio scenes with Sarah singing against a black background. Then some forested woodland backdrops slowly emerge behind her, and she’s not in the studio after all, she’s surrounded in the rich green of nature.
“Invitation” sets the album up with gentle ambient organ and Sarah singing in soothing, reflective registers. “Oxbow Shower” points to an experience we’ve all had: “it’s all embarrassment now, walk the gauntlet now… I f*cked up, I left it, Thought that somebody else would collect it.” In “Purebred” again the organ is gently prominent with a snappy rhythm. “No mystery left, smoke without scent, I’m not the one taking comfort in the page turn.”
“Bruise” is the lonely and should searching “I woke up with a bruise on my breast… I tried to wash it off, I think it’s from not being touched enough.” “No One Again” is that song about someone whose name shall not be spoken ” I don’t want to write a song about you, pink elephant in the middle of the room.”
Quiet Takes is what the title suggests, and more. More, because the quiet takes are deeply reflective and ambient.
Find more information here on her website: https://quiettakes.com, and find the music of Quiet Takes here on BandCamp: https://quiettakes.bandcamp.com/album/regrets-only
Environmental sound recorded by Sarah Michelle Magill in various locations, except 2, recorded by Redditor @roffels.
Musicians on the album are Sarah Michelle Magill on keys, vocals and drum programming(7); Zach Hanson on drums (1,2,4,5,7,9,10,11), bass (1,3,5,6), guitar (2,3,5,9,11), percussion (2,5,7,9,10,11), piano (6) & Loopy Lou (7); Ben Lester on pedal steel Ben Lester (1, 4, 7, 11); Jeremy Boettcher on upright bass (2,4,9); Tim Sullivan on flute (9,10) & saxophone (3, 4, 6, 9); S. Carey on drums (3,7) & background vocals (1,2, 3, 5 ). S. Carey appears courtesy of Jagjaguwar.
Regrets Only was recorded in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with producer Zach Hanson (S. Carey, Bon Iver, Gordi) who also mixed and engineered it. The album was mastered by Huntley Miller. and musicians Sean Carey (Bon Iver, S. Carey), Jeremy Boettcher (S. Carey), Ben Lester (S. Carey), and Tim Sullivan.