This year marks a quarter century since Tim Rutili released his debut self-titled EP as Califone—a full-band Chicago outfit at the time, before Ruitili set out on his own following 2009’s All My Friends Are Funeral Singers and relocated to Los Angeles. In May he’ll release his eighth and latest album under the moniker, with villagers experimenting in the same psych-tinged avant-folk corners he’s long explored within and outside of the project.
In the meantime, Rutili recently sat down for a “FLOOD Session” at a studio in LA’s Echo Park, joined by collaborators Max Knouse and Brad Dujmovic (and Pumpkin the cat) on a warmly acoustic recording of the album’s title track. “It was raining like crazy in LA the day we did this,” Rutili recalls. “Can’t think of a better place to hide out in the rain than Brad’s studio with good friends. We worked on a few songs on villagers in this comfy room and on that vibey piano. Brad is playing the piano through modular synths on this song and getting some beautiful sounds. Max is playing a weathered 12-string and has an EQ pedal masking taped to his guitar. It is beyond my understanding, but it sounds really good.”
Regarding the video’s true focal point, he adds: “Watching this again, Pumpkin is the most cat-like cat I have ever known, and the star of this show. He is definitely the catalyst, adding some sweet and sour friction to the narrative.”
With Rutili on acoustic guitar and his backing band filling out the track with additional guitar and vocals, twinkling piano, and, uh, masking tape, check out their performance below.
Directed and edited by Jennifer Daley
Camera: Jennifer Daley, Lillian Beaudoin, George McAuliffe
Played by Tim Rutili (guitar, vocals), Max Knouse (12 string guitar, vocals, masking tape), Brad Dujmovic (piano through modular synth, vocals), Pumpkin (cat behavior)
Recorded and mixed by Brad Dujmovic
