Sad Songs They Say So Much | TRS105
From NY artist, Padna, TRS105 is a release of pandemic infused, improvisational and somewhat minimalistic piano pieces with domestically referenced field recordings and industrially influenced soundscapes. Melancholic and introspective in nature and tone, these lovely tracks are a direct result of a year or more spent at home during lockdown with family, and instruments at hand. All the tracks were recorded on a phone. Pensive and thoughtful, yet with an undeniable lo-fi edginess at times, this album should speak to us all who have been there and back.
This release is physically available only in an edition of 53, 12” lathe cut records. Each copy comes in a uniquely collaged and repurposed vintage 50’s easy listening record jacket, incorporating and merging with the original vibrant colored jacket cover designs a lovely, enlarged, archival printed and appropriately torn image of a young Victorian woman seated pensively at her piano. Each jacket comes with a modified, hand stamped and textual back cover, with an original 100 year old piano-centric antique corner mounted postcard on it (some with the original 100 year old message on the back). Also, tucked inside is a vintage, informative hand written repair card from a long gone piano repair business.
The 12” clear lathe cut records were cut as usual at Bladud Flies, in Wales, UK, and come with high quality printed color labels.
This release will ship by end of June 2022.
<<<< Padna >>>>>
Nat Hawks has been solo recording as Padna for 21 years. His goal has always been to make “sad, but strange, songs.”
All of the sounds on this album were recorded on a phone. An unexplained sound in the distance, a car engine that seems to sing, an industrial clang nearby. All piano was recorded at his parents and in-laws during brief moments. Songs written in an instant and immediately recorded. Chatter in the background while dinner is made.
This is most purely collage in approach collection I have ever made. I’ve historically lacked the discipline to create a song cycle with such consistency. Since I’ve become a parent, my recording practices changed dramatically. And maybe for the better? I no longer have the time to second guess or over cook. Which makes the songs cleaner, purer.
Nat is a high school English teacher living in Brooklyn with his wife and two kids.
<<<< Side A >>>>
1 Dec 26
2 Sept 28
3 July 23
4 Sept 27
5 June 25
6 Dec 27
<<<< Side B >>>>
7 Aug 20
8 Aug 30
9 June 26
10 Dec 28
11 Sept 29
12 July 24
13 Dec 29
All music composed and played by Padna/Nat Hawks.
Thank you to my parents and in-laws for keeping a piano around the house, Pia and Oona for keeping me company while I played, and Colin for putting this all together.
Mastered by Taylor Deupree
Artwork and design by Colin Herrick
Time Released Sound 2022
