News for April 2011

On The Making of Reform Follows Function

On The Making Of.
These tracks were recorded in my basement – a fairly common set up for working musicians.   On my last album, Becoming Liturgy, Justin Rimbo added some claps and vocals and by an oversight of my record label didn’t get his name in the liner notes.  I was pretty annoyed with my record label but have since forgiven myself.  And Justin has forgiven me as well.  All the same, I thought it a kind gesture to ask Justin to help me produce Reform Follows Function.  In fact, before I came up with this name I thought about naming the album Justin Rimbo.  Maybe that’ll be it’s nickname.  Either way it worked out great.  Justin accepted my offer to do a whole bunch of work for free.  And just think, that’s my way of saying sorry.
I recorded acoustic demo’s to a click track and sent them to Graham Peterson (drums) and Justin Rimbo (bass) then, on one of the last flip flop days of fall we set up the drums and a smattering of mics and added drums and bass to the click tracks. Bed tracks done.  For those of you who don’t know, Graham and Justin are both gigging musicians all over the Twin Cities and have spent years playing together as the Fuller Still rhythm section.  They work great together.  On a weird sidenote – 9 years ago I was playing in the Rachel Kurtz band in AZ and Graham’s band was also playing at the event and Graham sat in as the Rachel Kurtz drummer.  In AZ.  9 years ago.  Weird.  Both Graham and Justin are a joy to work with and brought incredible life to these songs.
Over the next couple of months I would go downstairs whenever I had a couple of hours (sometimes minutes) and add stuff to the tracks.  Take it away.  Put different stuff on.  And so on.  Jonathan Rundman came over and added the accordian tracks one day as our kids played ever so quietly upstairs.  (When I played on his Protestant Rock Ethic album our first round of kids played upstairs while we recorded in his basement)  A couple days later I took tracks over to his house and he added Wurlitzer and Hammond.  My friend Mari came over right before Christmas and added the catchy/trippy fiddle parts.  For ephemera I put out a call on facebook for anyone that had dated via letters and got a bunch of couples to come over and sing on Ephemera.  My seven year old was singing along too so I recorded a take of her.  And then my three year old didn’t want to be left out so I got her on it too.  Originally I didn’t think they’d make the final cut – but the more I listened to those voices the more perfect it became – a sort of passing on of the letter writing tradition.  It may be my favorite song on the album, especially when I’m on the road and away from home.  On take your time the clickety clack sound is my friend Matt playing typewriters.  One pass with fingers on the keys and one pass using rods.  Erin Deboer-Moran came in and did the harmonies.  I held her newborn (my goddaughter!) as she sang.  We took two takes just because one take seemed too easy.  But I’m pretty sure we just used the first take.  She makes it look easy.  Micah came over with a mandolin and we added that to Out on the Plains.  (Last time Micah recorded mandolin on my kids album two years ago his young son was in the room and can be heard making kid noises on the MKNATPPOPPL)  Then we ran the mandocaster through way too many pedals and added all the noise on Take Your Time and Redemption.  On one of those I think I was playing the mandocaster and he was just kneeling in front of the pedal board twisting knobs.  We had a couple vocal edits/tweaking to do so I sent tracks to longtime friend and gizmo genius Joel Pakan who worked his magic.  Around this time the tracking was wrapping up.  My work was done.
Pat Tomek of the Rainmakers took on the task of mixing.  He also added some great percussion and in the midst of recording an album with the Rainmakers left his drums set up and played the drums on Take Your Time.  Once again I was working with a great guy that knew how to get great sounds out of my lo-fi basement studio sound.  The last guy to work that sort of magic was Gregg Ward on the Mysterious Kung Fu Ninja and The Pink Princess of Pretty Pretty Land CD.  Gregg’s been doing a lot of mastering lately so once Pat perfected the mixes they were sent off to Gregg who masterfully mastered the album and came up with some amazing fades that really pay off when you listen to this album straight through.  Take that shuffle.
As the mixing and mastering continued I borrowed a painting of Matt Holm’s and Kjel Alkire began the design and layout.  There’s a whole great story behind the origin of the painting but for legal reasons I’d rather not put it out there for the general public.  I will say that it was very intentional to have a gray and fluid image.  I think that is a wonderful description of my faith journey, and likely yours.  I’m grateful for Matt’s willingness to share the image, and Kjel’s sensibility to incorporate it into the design of this album.
When all that was done I took it off to Copy Cats where Ed took it under his wing and gave it all back one thousand fold.
And that’s how we made Reform Follows Function.
Posted: April 22nd, 2011
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On The Title – An explanation of Reform Follows Function.

This is Part 1 of 3 explanations of the new album Reform Follows Function.  This is also on the Reform Follows Function page.  Part 2 is on the making of RFF, and Part 3 is on the songs.

Reform Follows Function is a play on architect Louis Sullivan’s motto, Form Follows Function. If you want a car’s primary function to be speed then it’s form will be aerodynamic. That’s form following function. Remember the last time you saw a VW Vanagon on the speedway? Exactly.

Form following function makes great sense in the realm of design but falls short when describing the church. Unlike cars and buildings the church is a living thing. It’s people. It’s you and me. I believe the primary function of the church is joining the world in the embrace of God’s love and providing opportunities for response. We exist in ever changing environments and as a result we are most functional when we are continually reformed.

The European church of the early 1500’s was dysfunctional. People didn’t have direct access to the Bible and they were being charged for forgiveness. Martin Luther took issue with this and about 93 other things. The Reformation he instigated was all about creating a more functional church. This was his response to the embrace of God’s love.

Our response may look a little different but it is equally revolutionary. It may be sharing a meal with a neighbor. Or a stranger. Volunteering at a free clothing store. Hugging our kids. These are the things that change the world. Small things with great love as Mother Theresa would say.

The songs on Reform Follows Function reflect this approach of changing and responding to what God has done for us. Whether growing in trust, rethinking spending habits, challenging authority, working for peace, living our callings or simply staying in touch, this is an album of hope and encouragement to a people that have been embraced by God’s love and continually respond. We are simply who we are and this world cannot ignore us. The Reformation continues.

Posted: April 18th, 2011
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Is that burning an eternal flame?

Why yes it is.  And I can’t help but notice that Jesus and I are looking in opposite directions.  Let’s not read too deep into that okay?  Or, if you must, take into account that we’re both looking left.  All right then.

This shot was taken by my brother in law Rodney last Wednesday at Glyndon Lutheran Church in Glyndon MN – just east of Moorhead.

I had the distinct pleasure of playing a ton of music in western MN last week.  Sunday morning and Wednesday night at Glyndon Lutheran, Sunday night at Zion of Amor, Tuesday night with a group of Moorhead area clergy and musicians, and then on Wednesday I met with a group of seventh graders before school (we wrote a song) (it was hardcore),  lead 30 some preschoolers in a morning devotion and sing-a-long and then did an after school devotion and sing-a-long for elementary age kids.  Top that off with the aforementioned Glyndon Wednesday night service and a drive home to St. Paul and you’ve got yourself one tired Nate!

But man, it was great.  I was graciously hosted by Rod and then Jeni and Collin Grangaard.  I got to see so many great folks from Zion of Amor that I haven’t seen in 4 years.  I enjoyed the quiet and free wireless of the Fargo library where I finished a sparkhouse writing deadline.  I made pizza with the Grangaards, accused Jay Beech of jaywalking (he acted like no one had yelled that at him before) met a bunch of great great youth, and heard the stories of area clergy.  This is all very hopeful stuff people!!!

So thank you all for supporting artist such as myself – when you hire folks like me, or Jonathan, or Dave, or Rachel, or Tay, you not only support art, you support the church by giving us opportunities to share your stories wherever we go and together, being part of God’s redeeming work.  Thank You!

And you’re also supporting seventh graders co-writing songs in the last seven minutes of their 8am confirmation class:

“On Noodle Encroachment and Wishful Revenge”

I’ve got a garden, it’s got the flowers
But noodles are coming, and they have the powers
Noodles are coming, noodles are coming, noodles are coming, we’re all going to die!!!
AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

I fear for my flowers, their life is so fragile
I hope they escape, dear flowers be agile!
Noodles are coming, noodles are coming, noodles are coming, we’re all going to die!!!
AAAAAAHHHHH!!!

My flowers are dead, the noodles have won
But if we are patient, the sauce will come
The sauce is coming, the sauce is coming, the sauce is coming, the noodles will die!!!
AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Posted: April 11th, 2011
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Order Online.

Sweet.  Reform Follows Function is now available online – or click on consume and download the snail mail order form.

Nate Houge: Reform Follows Function
Posted: April 11th, 2011
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