After two decades as an album artist, Paul Hiraga of Downpilot asked himself: Why should a songwriter write songs if not to understand the strangest or most difficult situations we can find ourselves in? With his latest album "Strange Horses" (to be released in September by Tapete Records), he tries to confront the challenges of life in a time of such rapid and mysterious changes and to illuminate their effects on relationships, the physical world itself, and the unfathomable terrain of the psyche.
His eighth album is a masterfully crafted and truly moving work.
Hiraga proves with "Strange Horses" that he is one of the best contemporary singer-songwriters in the USA.
Musically, he navigates "Strange Horses" between folk, classic Laurel Canyon sound, and harmonic pop in the style of Big Star and Teenage Fanclub, yet he manages to reveal new facets from the seemingly familiar.
"Strange Horses" was written, recorded, and mixed by Hiraga himself (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums) in Seattle and on Whidbey Island (Washington) and features guest appearances by his longtime collaborators Anne Marie Ruljancich (Walkabouts), Lars Plogschties, Terry de Castro (Wedding Present), Jeff Brown, and Melinda Rice, while newcomer Will Thomas (Dive Index) provides the synthesizer sounds.
In October and November, Downpilot will be on a European tour presenting his fantastic new album.
Free admission
