Spirits and the Melchizedek Children

Forged in late summer nights surrounding a dying bonfire at Camp 1538, Spirits and the Melchizedek Children began as lead singer Jason Elliott’s acoustic ramblings. His opened-ended lullabies and ballads developed in equal measures of melody, psychedelic meanderings, and eulogies to times past. After several months of recording solo, Elliott’s personal lullabies were fortified with the addition of keyboardist Chris Case (Samadha, Adron, Little Tybee), guitarist Darrin Harrison, drummer Craig Henderson, and bassist Joe McNeill. Read more on Last.fm …read full bio

Forged in late summer nights surrounding a dying bonfire at Camp 1538, Spirits and the Melchizedek Children began as lead singer Jason Elliott’s acoustic ramblings. His opened-ended lullabies and ballads developed in equal measures of melody, psychedelic meanderings, and eulogies to times past. After several months of recording solo, Elliott’s personal lullabies were fortified with the addition of keyboardist Chris Case (Samadha, Adron, Little Tybee), guitarist Darrin Harrison, drummer Craig Henderson, and bassist Joe McNeill. This line-up was featured on SATMC’s first album, We Are Here to Save YOU! Recorded in 2010 with Ed Rawls at The Living Room and mixed by Jason McCullough, it was released digitally in 2011. A different incarnation of the group emerged after We Are Here to Save You! was given to the world. Reevaluations were made and the project was stripped down to only Elliott’s vocals and guitar and Case’s keys. This “controlled burning” of sorts served to allow Elliott and Case to see with a renewed vision and purpose; a new lineup was shortly thereafter assembled. Drummer Bryan Fielden (San Agustin, Oryx and Crake) was brought on board and bassist Joe McNeill returned. This potent reinvigoration of the group gave Elliott’s songs an unprecedented depth and an expansive, intangible appeal. A tumultuous world was experienced, reconciled, and absolved. Imbued with understanding and a strange peace, a feather became many and began to unfold unto new song. A thick, sweltering Atlanta summer took hold and SATMC was approached by The Great Big about a split 7” release with one of Atlanta’s heaviest, Order of the Owl. This dynamic pairing made good; abstraction and deeper connection were concepts welcomed and wholly embraced by SATMC. Ryan Peoples (Oryx and Crake) recorded the track Look!, which would serve as a debut for the new lineup. Mixed by Jonathan Rhum, and mastered by Joel Hatstat, it was released in August 2012. The fires still hot, Spirits rolled into Decatur’s Studilaroche in late summer 2012 and began recording a follow up album to We Are Here to Save You! with engineer Benjamin Price. A more refined, albeit organic sound begin to seep and surge from the group. A new and exciting chapter for SATMC lies in wait. Evolving from crackling static into sonorous melody and back again, SATMC has a melodic sensibility gently woven into the chaotic fabric of their haunting arrangements. Praised by Atlanta-based music critic Chad Radford, he wrote of the band as “[creating] a sparse, ghostly, art-folk din that moves from a 4 a.m. whisper of distant, lonely strumming and moaning to a roar of tape hiss.” Unapologetically unexpected and comfortingly familiar, Spirits and the Melchizedek Children’s ambient appeal provides the soundtrack to lost summers, new loves, and the hopeful yearning of beginning again. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

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…shrink me down again