Terrorbird

Gone are the days of folk favorites Dutchess & The Duke, but finally some reprieve. Singer Jesse Lortz is back with a solo album that confirms his place in a long tradition of songwriting talent. Allowing him to explore creative outlets left untouched in prior projects, it is a release that collects previous recordings and demos with new material for a sound in keeping with a sound reminscent of Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt. Recorded by Greg Ashley (Gris Gris) and with help from friends including Crystal Stilts' Keegan Cooke on drums and guitar, The World Is Just a Shape to Fill the Night will be released August 16 on Sacred Bones.

Statement from Jesse Lortz:
Most of these songs were recorded with friends during Feb. 2011 by Greg Ashley (Gris Gris) in a secluded cabin in Sequim, WA. The cabin sessions marked the third time most of the songs had been recorded. Two of the songs on this album are from a previous recording session done at the Pool in Portland by Alex Yusimov. "The Day We Met" is from a demo recording session I did at my grandfather’s cabin on Lake Inez in Montana. A woman some of these songs are about flew out to visit me there. It was the last of the good times we had together.
Milana, Julia, Nicolas, Keegan, Greg, Suzie, Lisa, and Andrew came to the cabin to contribute to the album and take photographs and video. I wanted friends to join me because making records had always been a lonely process for me and I was ready to change that dynamic. Because this project is not a “band,” the focus has shifted so that I can play shows alone or with other people. I started writing the songs for this record when I was still married and the most recent song was written on my 32nd birthday. This project also incorporates drawing, jewelry making, non-musical creative writing and a host of disciplines that I never got the chance to explore in previous bands.
I am genuinely excited to be making music for probably the first time in my life.

Statement from Sacred Bones:
We feel very blessed to be working with an artist who is not only a dear friend but also one of the most prolific and sincere songwriters of our generation. Case Studies is unlike any album we have released before in that the group project is continually evolving and our goals are primarily spiritual.