Over the course of just a few weeks, Catherine Elicson—frontperson of the loud, unruly Philadelphia indie outfit Empath—will unveil River Of Fat, her inaugural solo album. A couple of weeks earlier, Elicson released the intimate, exquisitely crafted lead single “Figure.” Today, she presents two additional tracks that unfold in a style utterly distinct from that song.
River Of Fat was cut on a four-track machine, and Elicson handled every part herself—guitar, synth, sampler—without outside help. “I’m On Fire,” one of the new tunes, emerges as a boldly enigmatic rocker that, despite its title, isn’t a Bruce Springsteen cover. The other track, “All Sound,” is a gently hazy quasi-instrumental built from improvised guitar and vocal textures, with Elicson sighing without words over the flowing guitar lines. In addition to studio versions, she has also released a live video in which she layers loops and pedals for a solo outdoor rendition of “I’m On Fire.”
In a press release, Elicson explains:
“I’m On Fire” dives into the sensation of being imprisoned within your own inner universe and the emptiness that results. It carries a contemplative mood, and I enjoy getting lost in the repetitive weight of it. The video was filmed on a friend’s cedar-tree farm in New Jersey by my partner Halle Ballard and bandmate Johnny Costa. I rented a generator from Home Depot and performed as the sun dipped below the horizon. Shaun Sutkus, who also recorded the album, captured the live sound.
“All Sound” came together solely from improvised guitar and voice. I aimed to keep the song’s instinctive, unedited energy, so I deliberately preserved its minor imperfections. It introduces a buoyancy that softens some of the heavier moments on the record.
Below, you can hear both new tracks, along with the live version of “I’m On Fire.”
River Of Fat arises on 11/6 through Community Music.
