The latest from Children Of Minerva is a full-length album that incorporates a flurry of classic rock influenced garage toned rock that feels warming and honest with fuzzy guitars and echoed vocals that are all riddled with guitar lines that complement vocals and bring everything together tastefully.
The Souvenirs of a Life Recalled album is loaded with a graceful grit and this vintage undertone that makes you feel like you've been listening to these songs for decades now.
The record has a colorful palette of instrumentation and this energy that feels like taking a psychedelic journey through a storyline that connects song to song. The sounds are lush, and the songs come through personal and vivid but with this lo-fi approach that really works wonders for the aesthetic of these tracks.
Layers of textured melodies touch on each other and overlap in a blissful soiree of soundscape.
The authentic classic rock tonality is damn near perfectly done and you can tell that even though the record has this wonderful looseness, there is so much attention to detail here it's crazy.
The album almost feels like a concept record, and it just may be that but either way, the songs have a way of grabbing at you and floating around in your brain.
The keys and sounds used are really important with this sort of album. The dulcimer sounds for example combined with organs to build out a song is formatted and arranged so well that the genuine vintage feel is incredibly real.
With such a massive classic rock opus of an album, we wanted to touch base with the band to find out where this all came from and what may be up next.
Here's what happened.
RAG: Okay so let's start with the Souvenirs of A Life Recalled album. This record has a genuine classic and garage rock feel to it. Where did this album come from?
-This album was a logical extension upon the foundation of our debut album, "Nec Forma Est Verum". Having been satisfied with the sound that was achieved, we decided to build upon it without repeating ourselves.
RAG: I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
- We are heavily influenced by Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, The Left Banke, the original Nirvana (a UK-based 60s group), The Blossom Goes and a great many others
RAG: So how did this all begin for you really?
-After the release of Mick's album "Songs For An Activist" and the "Prodigal Son/Remember the Car Wash, Gerard!" single in 2020, he had grown tired of the folk rock/Americana genre. Having always had an affinity for UK psychedelic and baroque pop music, it was the genre he always wanted to work in.
The original lineup consisted of Amy Green (a Portlandian) contributing lyrics and Mick contributing music. After the release of our debut album and three preceding singles, Amy decided to hop off the train, so to speak. Sessions for "Souvenirs of a Life Recalled" began two or three weeks after the final mixes for "Nec Forma Est Verum" were completed (over New Year's Eve and Day, 2020/21).
In October of last year, Mick met and befriended a musician named Chris Lewis and he was keen on joining forces. A few weeks later, Emio Araya joined. We worked further on "Souvenirs of a Life Recalled" until April of this year. Chris decided not to continue owing to personal issues but it was an amicable parting of ways.
RAG: What's next for you as a band?
-We have decided to work as a duo and recruit additional musicians on a song-by-song basis. We are currently writing and recording material for our next album, which will be released in 2023 and Emio will be contributing an equal role as songwriter and vocalist.
RAG: How do you record your songs? Is it a home studio?
-The lion's share of the recording is done in Mick's home studio, dubbed The Soul Kitchen Recording Studios. More often than not, we bring song ideas to a session and listen to evaluate which ones can be developed into full songs.
RAG: What are you all doing when you're NOT working on music?
- Mick works as a freelance art instructor and as a clerk in a local record store. Emio is a manager of a local music store.
RAG: Who are you all listening to right now?
-Basil Kirchin, Roy Harper, early King Crimson and Charles Mingus have been in heavy rotation with us lately.
RAG: Are you doing live performances?
-Due to the complexity of our music, we may remain a studio band for the time being but we are not ruling out the possibility of performing live with a revolving lineup of musicians
RAG: This album seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming bands out there?
-Make music because you love to make music and maintain honesty as well as integrity.
RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
-Thank you for the support you have given us and hopefully continue to give. We promise that the music we create will be of the highest standard.
There are two versions of the album available online. The stereo version (preferred by the band) is available as a Bandcamp exclusive. The mono version (a dedicated alternate mix) is available on all other streaming platforms.
Also, a CD release with both mixes housed in a mini gatefold LP sleeve is available on our Bandcamp for 15 USD plus shipping.