Daughter of Mennonite missionaries, Rachel Ries hails from the inspiring, vast expanses of South Dakota, by way of Zaire. Her formative years were filled with Congolese spirituals, Mennonite hymns and her mom singing her to sleep with The Carpenters. Currently splitting her time between rural Vermont and New York City, Ries, returning from a four years-long hiatus, is releasing her third long player, Ghost of a Gardener, on March 24 via her own label SoDak.
Comprising ten original songs, the album examines the contrasts between rural simplicity and urban isolation as well as strains of regret over her self-imposed career halt. Rachel’s voice at times echoes that of Regina Spektor or early Maria Muldaur and Ghost is full of thoughtful and inventive arrangements ranging from fingerpicked melodicism paired with sweeping strings to the strut of Merle Haggard and the dirge-rock of Neil Young.
Ghost was recorded and produced by Ries along with Secretly Canadian artist David Vandervelde in winter of 2012/13 at Chicago's Pieholden Suite Sounds, studio of the late Jay Bennett (Wilco). It features Rachel on vocals, electric guitar, piano, organs, synths and glockenspiel, with Vandervelde adding acoustic & electric guitar, bass, synthesizers, percussion and vocals. A large ensemble contributes multi-layered harmonies, trumpets, strings, woodwinds and more. Players include Emmett Kelly (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Cairo Gang), Gregory Alan Isakov and members of Brooklyn’s Cuddle Magic.
Since 2008's Country EP, a split 45" with Anaïs Mitchell released on Righteous Babe Records, Ries ("reese") has recorded and toured extensively with Mitchell supporting Bon Iver and others. She was granted a Chicago Arts award in 2010, worked in a Chicago theatre, toured Europe and the States, learned how to repair Wurlitzers and (kind of) play the drums.
The release of Ghost of a Gardener will see Rachel tour both home and abroad in 2014/15 with extensive touring in mainland Europe, Australia and beyond.
TOUR DATES
8 May - Belfast | No Alibis
11 May - The Garage, London - Special guest to Wallis Bird
14 May - Coventry | Taylor John's - w/ Lucy Anne Sale
15 May - The Islington, London - W/Emmet Scnalan
16 May - Kettering | Sofa Sessions - event link
24 May - Durham | Old Cinema Laundrette
27 May - Sheffield | Greystones
28 May - Fox Lane Sports and Social Club, Leyland, Special guest to Aoife O'Donovan
30 May - The Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Edinburgh, Special guest to Aoife O'Donovan
