Marissa Nadler has announced her eighth album, For My Crimes, out 28th September via Bella Union and Sacred Bones. The announcement was accompanied by the release of the first single and LP title track which was spawned out of a songwriting exercise in which Nadler wrote from the perspective of someone on death row, but the song casts a dark shadow over an album that turns conflict into inner reflection. Helping Nadler dig down into the song’s remorseful soul is her old friend Angel Olsen, who serves as a distraught echo from beyond in the chorus.
The release has been pitched as her most evocative entry in what is already an impressive discography which began with Ballads of Living and Dying back in 2004. There are also hints of an increased confidence…
With the sound of turmoil giving way to truth, the songs stare down the dark realisation that love may not be enough to keep two people together through distance and differing needs. By asking these difficult questions about her relationships, Nadler has found a stronger sense of self and a sharper voice as both a songwriter and a vocalist.
Nadler co-produced For My Crimes with Lawrence Rothman and Justin Raisen at Rothman’s Laurel Canyon studio, House of Lux. Bolstering the intimacy of these songs is the strong feminine energy that defined their recording. Between Rothman’s fluidity with both gender and genre (as heard on his 2017 album The Book of Law), and Raisen’s track record of successful collaborations with strong women (Angel Olsen, Kim Gordon, Charli XCX), Nadler felt empowered to explore without judgement in the studio. With the exception of saxophonist Dana Colley (Morphine), every player on the album is a woman of notable pedigree and distinct style, many of whom have played with Nadler over the years. Cameos include vocals from Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and Kristin Kontrol, Patty Schemel (Hole, Juliette and the Licks) on drums, Mary Lattimore on harp, and the great experimental multi-instrumentalist Janel Leppin on strings.
Adding to the album’s deeply personal feeling is its abstracted artwork, featuring Nadler’s original oil paintings. Though Nadler is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a semi-retired art teacher (she has one student left—a 95-year-old named Doris), For My Crimes marks the first album cover bearing one of her paintings. She also channelled the album’s themes into paintings corresponding to specific tracks, which will be included as prints in the limited edition version of For My Crimes (and in some cases, for sale as originals on Nadler’s website).
Live Dates
Nadler will be playing a handful of US shows with the Decemberists in early October followed by the below European headline shows later in the month:
Tuesday 23th October – BRUSSELS – Botanique (Autumn Falls)
Wednesday 24th October – AMSTERDAM – Bitterzoet
Thursday 25th October – PARIS – Point FMR
Friday 26th October – BERLIN – Musik & Frieden
Saturday 27th October – COPENHAGEN – Loppen
Monday 29th October – MANCHESTER – Gullivers
Tuesday 30th October – LONDON – St Mattias Church (Dalston)
For My Crimes will be released 28th September via Bella Union and Sacred Bones and is available to preorder http://smarturl.it/MRSSN_FMC