What The Night Said
“A mysterious figure played oboe.” So says the liner notes for Will Stratton’s debut What The Night Said, yet the artist himself reveals that Sufjan is the oboist.
The mysterious part about this release is actually the moving target of a release date. Stunning Models On Display lists the official release date as July 24, pushed back from May which was pushed back from September 2006 (the date on the press release) which was pushed back from April 2006 when I was first promised a copy of the CD after “it is finished being manufactured.” The release has been downloadable from digital music stores for a few months and online retailers are currently shipping copies of the physical CD. Stratton revealed to Fragility Productions that the delays are due to his inability to tour to properly promote the release and he has already started recording a second album.
Go to Will’s myspace page to listen to a few tracks and decide for yourself whether or not Sufjan’s vibrato is so-so.
Release Date: July 24, 2007 ?
Buy What The Night Said CD from Amazon
Download the songs from iTunes or eMusic
Press release and information from Stunning Models On Display:
No ever said being humble is a bad thing. It’s certainly not bad in the case of Will Stratton, because he really doesn’t seem to comprehend the reaches of his musicianship. Not only does Will have talent, but he has manners, modesty, compassion, and optimism - characteristics rarely found in young musicians. Will’s personality is absolutely demonstrated in his debut album.
The music on What the Night Said… is gentle but intense. Will has the uncanny ability to compose intricate songs that speak to the listener in such an effortless and beautiful way that he makes songwriting seem easy. What the Night Said… also has a comprehensive theme of night: Will wrote most of the songs either at night or about the night, and the tone of the album reflects the contradictions of peace and uneasiness during the dark hours. Will adds extra texture with banjo, mellotron, and bontempi organ.
What the Night Said… is the work of a solo artist, but it’s also the result of several amazing collaborations. Friends join Will on several songs: his former band mate Jeff Wheeler plays slide guitar on “So Ashamed,” and friend Sam Deutsch adds violin to several songs. Will even has producer/friend Kieran Kelly on drums and his father, Tim Stratton on bass. Friends and family aren’t the only ones on this album with Will, though. He is also joined by Tony Rogers, cellist for Jens Lekman. Oh, and a few friends show up just to clap their hands.
Will Stratton was born and raised in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and feels most at home on the east coast. Currently, though, he attends University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Growing up, Will was always playing music, starting with the piano at age 5. He became interested in classical music (Ravel, Debussy, and Satie are his favorites) and learned about inventive composers like Philip Glass and Steve Reich. He tried his hand at punk and ska bands when he was younger, but the desire to write uncompromisingly personal songs was too strong, so Will went solo and cultivated his folk side, courtesy of influences like Mark Kozelek and Nick Drake.
Once he developed his own sound, Will was discovered by the good folks at Stunning Models on Display. Stunning Models are veterans of the music business who started their own label to build a home for determined and talented musicians. Both parties are happy with the union, and together they’re releasing a piece of work that displays the brilliance of a young man with an old soul. Look for Will Stratton on the road in 2006, headed to a town near you.
- Katydid
- So Ashamed
- Fireflies
- Night Will Come
- Lost The Fear
- I’d Hate To Leave You
- Sonnet
- Oh Quiet Night
- Sleepwalk
- Stay Awake
- Sunol
- I Don’t Wanna Love
June 5th, 2007 admin
Entry Filed under: Guest Appearances, Press Releases, Related Artists