Music

They got together through a mutual friend. And it was another friend, sound engineer and also neighbor, Alex Venguer, who helped the group record their second album, Arrow (out November 3rd on Fargo Records).

Led by the pretty, lilting voice of Clare Muldaur, the Reasons includes her husband Olivier Manchon. They have a history of using instruments including cellos, violas and kazoos as well as cameos from members of groups like The National and Beirut, to produce ambient songs that are both beautiful and heartbreaking.

The first single off the new album, “Oooh you hurt me so” perfectly demonstrates Clare’s favorite kind of song: “I like to have sad songs that sound happy, bitter/sweet.”

Taken from a couple arguing in a restaurant where Clare was eating, this ‘everyday’ occurrence is just one of the songstress’s inspirations. For Arrow, she was particularly animated by her 91-year-old grandmother, whose experience and lust for life influenced “You Getting Me” and “Photograph”.

Colors and textures in paintings and films trigger her creative song-writing process as well. They helped her come up with fictional worlds and characters for “Murder, They Want Murder” and “Wake Up (You Sleepy Head)”.

These songs will be taken on the road as Clare and The Reasons set off on a promotional tour this fall. Something that is striking about the CATR tour are some of the venue choices. One curious place is the Unitarian Church Sanctuary in Philadelphia, PA.

A spot that performs gay and lesbian unions, hosts vegan dinners and gives feminism workshops, it is a far cry from traditional commercial arenas.

While open-minded about the places they go, Clare points out, “What is important to us is that it (the space) allows the audience to listen, and not talk”. So the group searches for “great sounding spaces” in order to give the audience the best show possible— sounds good to me. CZ