Keepsake

by Elizabeth & the Catapult

Overview

Keepsake is the fourth album and Compass Records debut of Elizabeth & the Catapult, the project of New York singer/songwriter Elizabeth Ziman. Following 2014's Like It Never Happened by three years, it was written and recorded at various stops in the interim, with six different producers not counting Ziman herself. In addition to touring and appearing on albums by bands like Kishi Bashi and Son Lux during that stretch, she also carved time to score a handful of documentary films with Paul Brill. A classically trained pianist who took up the guitar before her previous album and writes on both, she puts piano front and center on the Randy Newman-esque "Mea Culpa." A pair of character sketches about reaching personal crossroads, the song's buoyant, racing piano accompaniment and Ziman's playful delivery may seem to underplay serious subject matter, but, after all, any hardship stems from their own bad behavior. An album that embraces moving forward from hard-earned life lessons, the songwriter turns the lens on herself on "Underwater." Also upbeat in tone but with lusher, full-band production by former bandmate Dan Molad, it takes stock of personal growth with lyrics like "I'm not afraid of sleeping like I used to be/I can crash into the waves, let them roll over me." Elsewhere, the earworm "We Can Pretend" functions as a jaunty anthem for selective reminiscing with handclaps and Mellotron among its palette. The album's not all bright and bubbly, though. Keepsake holds its share of wistful reflection ("Magic Chaser," "Better Days") and sentiments somewhere in between, but it gets downright forlorn on the arresting "Land of Lost Things." A piano-and-strings lament with Sondheim-ian overtones, it features reverb-rich production by Mark Marshall and proves to be an album highlight. Having said that, Ziman presents a solid front here, and that includes the hidden 13th track, "New Beginnings," a dreamy surf tune with hot sand between its toes and production by Richard Swift. It's a fitting end to a thoughtful and ultimately hopeful album that doubles as a songwriting showcase. ~ Marcy Donelson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/2017
Label:	COMPASS RECORDS
UPC:	0766397469829

Tracks

1. We Can Pretend
2. Underwater
3. Something More
4. Ambrosia
5. Magic Chaser
6. Mea Culpa
7. Method Acting
8. Better Days
9. Less Than You Think
10. Tread Carefully
11. Land of Lost Things
12. Wishing Well
13. New Beginnings

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Elizabeth & the Catapult   Primary Artist
Shira Kremer   Children's Chorus
Richard Swift   Bass,Drums,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Mark Marshall   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Elizabeth Ziman   Juno,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Mellotron,Wurlitzer,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Rob Moose   Strings
Alec Spiegelman   Flute,Clarinet,Percussion,Sax (Alto),Clarinet (Alto)
Gene Back   Strings
Dan Molad   Bass,Drums,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (Nylon String)
Kimi Mongello   Vocals (Background)
Pete Lalish   Moog Bass,Guitar (Electric)
Emeen Zarookian   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Adam Popick   Vocals (Background)
Adam Minkoff   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Lauren Balthrop   Vocals (Background)
Stephen Kaye   Strings
Jonathan Linden   Ukulele,Guitar (Electric)
Libbi Arnon   Children's Chorus
Mia Arnon   Children's Chorus
Mia Green   Children's Chorus
Mika Zurim   Children's Chorus
Zoe Green   Children's Chorus

Technical Credits

Mark Marshall   Editing,Producer,Additional Production
Paul Brill   Engineer
Chris Cubeta   Engineer,Producer,Additional Production
Richard Swift   Producer
Joe Lambert   Mastering
Roger Greenawalt   Mixing,Producer
Elizabeth Ziman   Composer,Producer,String Arrangements
Rob Moose   String Arrangements
Dan Molad   Mixing,Producer
Shervin Lainez   Photography
Adam Popick   Additional Production
Ed McEntee   Mixing,Producer
Stephen Kaye   Mixing,Additional Production
Jackie Saik   Design
Lindsay Smilow   Art Direction