Music Makers
The gospel according to Bodies of Water; Fred Durst directs his second film
By Ingrid Randoja
Creativity flows from Bodies of Water
Bodies of Water (pictured above) is the L.A.-based indie quartet that sounds like a ’60s garage group/gospel choir/Arcade Fire cover band, all rolled into one. The band’s second CD, A Certain Feeling, hits shelves July 22nd.
Singer David Metcalf is responsible for the group’s eclectic arrangements, which rely on the four-member band harmonizing and, sometimes, singing over one another.
“I listen to older gospel quartets — which were usually five or six people — and we take cues from their arrangements,” says Metcalf via cellphone while walking his dog in his Highland Park neighbourhood.
Metcalf was raised in a religious home and is inspired by ecclesiastical music. He started Bodies of Water with his wife, Meredith, and two friends, Kyle Gladden and Jessie Conklin, although Meredith, Kyle and Jessie didn’t really know how to play instruments. That didn’t stop the group from laying down sounds they found both strange and soothing.
Their second CD is a more mature, more accomplished work, and Metcalf says widening his musical base helped him grow.
“I was listening to a lot of Laurie Anderson, ’80s art rock while working on this record, and then I got really into Yes. I hadn’t really listened to them before and I liked them. I would have keeled over when I was 18 if I knew 10 years later I would be into prog rock. I would have thought, ‘Man, that stuff’s lame,’ and now I’m into seven-minute keyboard solos.”
Singers On Screen
Technically, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst isn’t on screen this month, rather he’s behind the camera, directing his second feature film, the sports flick The Longshots,
about the first girl to play Pop Warner football (football’s version of
Little League). Durst admits he always wanted to direct — even before
he got involved with Limp Bizkit — and calls David Fincher a friend and
mentor.
You Gotta Hear This
If you’re still looking for your summer party tune check out Sam
Sparro’s soulful beatdown “21st Century Life” (available July 21st at www.samsparro.com).
Sparro, a 25-year-old gay L.A. club star, who grew up singing in church
choirs and appearing in TV commercials, first served notice with the
glittering hit “Black and Gold,” and he continues to shine with his
latest dance groove.
Out this month
July 1
G-Unit - Terminate on Sight
Alkaline Trio -
Agony and Irony
Nas -
Nas
July 8
The Game - L.A.X.
Totimoshi - Milagrosa
July 15
John Mellencamp - Life, Death, Love and Freedom
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
July 22
Miley Cyrus - Breakout
Black Kids - Partie Traumatic