It’s been a decade since Brice Randall Bickford began performing under the name “The Strugglers”. In this time, he has released five albums, toured the world, and earned a reputation as a master of subtle, narrative songwriting. Bickford's dense, poetic lyrics imbue his compositions with an enduring vitality, rewarding the listener with additional layers of meaning upon each successive listen. Now 32, he has cast off “The Strugglers” moniker and recorded his most focused and nuanced full length to date. Collaborating closely with acclaimed producer Scott Solter (The Mountain Goats, Spoon, John Vanderslice), Bickford created a lush and detailed sonic landscape for his painstakingly crafted lines to inhabit. The bare-bones Americana sound of The Strugglers is traded for the crisp, studio driven production style of late 70’s pop-folk, heightening the emotion and coloring the mood of each composition.
One might expect the transition to “solo artist” to find Bickford turning further inward, pursuing more confessional writing. While he now acknowledges his project as the work of a solitary songwriter, Bickford has instead chosen to broaden the focus, examining the external world and the thoughts and experiences of characters other than himself—particularly women. But these are not relationship songs. Rather they are portraits of female personae on a direct, post-romantic level. The arrangement of the compositions also represent Bickford's most outward and collaborative process yet, with band members and Solter given free reign to help build a world for each song. Members of St. Vincent, Megafaun and Mount Moriah also guest.
Brice Randall Bickford will be released on June 14, 2011 in Trekky Records' signature 3-part package, including a vinyl record, a CD and an MP3 download. Each album will be hand-numbered and gold-foil stamped.
Brice Randall Bickford - Brice Randall Bickford Order LP/CD/MP3.
