Kevin Morby, Ryley Walker

Harlem River marks the solo debut of songwriter Kevin Morby. Known for his work as the singer/guitarist for the Brooklyn band The Babies and bassist for Woods, the Kansas City native and new Los Angeles resident, calls the record "an homage to New York City," his adopted home for the past five years.

Harlem River features eight interweaving tales of tragedy and misfortune; a series of desperate characters playing out their dramas with the city as backdrop. A departure from some of the signature sounds of his better known projects, Morby's songs glisten with a haunting intimacy and while he maintains that the songs are stories about other people, it's hard not to feel a piece of him in each one; a half-imagined, half-painfully personal world of lost love, addiction, violence and prayers for the departed.

The album was recorded in Los Angeles in February and March of '13 with producer Rob Barbato who recorded The Babies' second album, Our House On The Hill, and whose guitar and bass work figure prominently on Harlem River. The album also features drummer Justin Sullivan (The Babies) as well as contributions from Will Canzoneri, Tim Presley (White Fence), Dan Lead, and Cate Le Bon.

“With the charming swagger of jazz-folk troubadour Tim Buckley and the resonant, full picking style of Bert Jansch, “The West Wind” comes from Walker’s first widely available release, a three-song 12”. With acoustic guitar in hand and a voice like browned butter, Walker swings and sways in a lush string-and-piano arrangement right out of Buckley’sStarsailor; it slowly picks up to a swirling gallop without bucking the rhythm.” – NPR Music

Ryley is a 24 year-old singer/songwriter and guitarist from Chicago. Having kicked around Chicago’s experimental free/noise music scene for several years, Ryley recently turned to a folk-rock sound inspired by some of his heroes, among them Tim Hardin, Tim Buckley, and Bert Jansch. The result is a poised and accomplished debut album, recorded in Chicago by Cooper Crain (guitarist/keyboardist in Cave). The album will be released by Tompkins Square in April 2014.

A 3 song 12” EP featuring “The West Wind” and two non-LP B sides (including one instrumental duet with Daniel Bachman) was released in November on Tompkins Square. Sleeve design by Plastic Crimewave.