Summer Fiction

It’s approaching 3 am and Bill Ricchini aka Summer Fiction isn’t on the windswept beach his moniker may suggest. He’s in a dank basement echo chamber at Eve Studios- a 200-year old country house/recording space just North of Manchester, UK. His wordless “oohs” bounce off the cinderblock walls overdubbing a tricky vocal harmony that is part Brian Wilson, part Jeff Lynn. A jangly guitar chimes in channeling Johnny Marr- born just 3 miles away.

It’s been over 4 years since Ricchini’s self-titled debut as Summer Fiction was released to praise from New York Magazine, Vogue, NPR, KCRW, Magnet, and other admirers. In that time, Ricchini moved from South Philadelphia to Williamsburg, Brooklyn and took songwriting trips to Mexico and the Pacific Northwest.

It was in early 2013, that Ricchini approached long time collaborator and UK transplant Brian Christinzio (aka BC Camplight) to co-produce the new Summer Fiction record, titled Himalaya. Arrangements were made and Ricchini camped out at Eve for two weeks that chilly spring shaping the songs (“the Big Star meets The La’s power pop of Perfume Paper”, the pet sounds carousel of “Lauren Lorraine”, the Nilsson/Bacharach melodic songcraft of “Religion of Mine,” the icy fingerpicked ballad “By My Side”).

Himalaya was mixed in Brooklyn by Stratosphere Sound vet Geoff Sanoff and mastered by Joe Lambert (The National, Sharon Van Etten, Deerhunter, Panda Bear).

Ricchini’s songs have appeared in films such as The Fault in Our Stars, Safety Not Guaranteed and television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy.


Praise for Summer Fiction:

“Brilliant 60?s-esque AM pop.” -New York Magazine

“Lovely, bookish songs.” –Vogue

“World-weary yet heartwarming summer pop that sounds good anytime of year.” – NPR

“Wistfully demur on the surface, delving into everyday matters of the heart with a icy pair of forceps, leaving all manner of collateral damage in its wake. ” –Magnet

“Charmingly catchy heartache meets sun-kissed disenchantment.” -The Philadelphia Inquirer

“One of our favorite discoveries this year.” -KCRW

“Bill Ricchini has a splendid way with a melody that recalls the Beach Boys and The Left Banke. In the grand tradition of great pop tunesmiths he’s sometimes puzzled by the ways of the human heart, but you can imagine him getting a girl worth having.” All Music Guide