aaamusic | On 15, May 2011

MANIMAL VINYL TO RELEASE RAIN PHOENIX’S NEW ALBUM, LET’S MAKE BABIES IN THE WOODS

“…spinning arrestingly gorgeous folk-pop with a slightly psychedelic touch.” LA Weekly

“Offbeat, moody, and dreamily seductive,” Marie Claire (US)

“‘Let’s Make Babies in the Woods’ finds Phoenix revelling in dark, moody arrangements that reflect subtle jazz and African influences, sounding at times like a Hope Sandoval album.” AOL Spinner

“Her music is unpolished and confessional, with a ’90s tinge of driving guitars and gently menacing female vocals” Interview Magazine

Anchored by lead singer and songwriter, Rain Phoenix, and flanked by her revolving cast of collaborators, papercranes, will release their second album, in the UK on the 11th July via Manimal Vinyl (Bat For Lashes, Warpaint, Sister Crayon). Let’s Make Babies in the Woods, is a mesmerizing mix of gritty, psychedelia-tinged folk, propulsive rhythms, and orchestral expansiveness. The soul of each song is formed by Phoenix’s voice, which drips with emotion and is equally comfortable as an airy whisper or a shiver-inducing, raspy wail.

In its current live incarnation, Phoenix is joined by Kirk Hellie, Norm Block, Todd Dhalhoff, Jenny O, Matt Cooker and Ameena Khawaja. The album features Andy Lord, Michael Amish, Myles Matheny, Dave Lebleu , Norm Block, and long time papercranes collaborator, Robb Buono. Guest spots include Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (bass/trumpet) and Dermot Mulroney (cello).

Rain Phoenix started performing live at the tender age of three alongside her siblings, River, Joaquin, Liberty and Summer. At six, she was onstage with Crosby, Stills and Nash at The Hollywood Bowl, and at 15 she joined alt rock band, Aleka’s Attic, playing alongside her brother, River. Rain later toured as a backup singer with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and guested on REM’s album Monster, as well as delivering a memorable performance as cowgirl Bonanza Jellybean in Gus Van Sant’s Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.

In 2006, Rain formed papercranes and released her debut album, Vidalia (featuring guest vocals from Angela McCluskey and the late Vic Chestnutt). During the recording of the band’s second album, Let’s Make Babies in the Woods, Rain co-founded the charity known as Gift Horse Project which features a rotating line-up of musical talent including Warpaint’s Emily Kokal, Chris Stills, Joe Sumner, Royston Langdon and Jenny O.