Songs for Persephone is a collaboration between Mimi Goese and Ben Neill that combines Goese’s emotionally charged vocals and lyrics with Neill’s uniquely hi-tech musical instrumentation. Inspired by the expressive possibilities of new technology as well as the natural beauty of New York’s Hudson Valley and the Hudson River School of painting, Goese and Neill started with a fragment of a different 19th century romantic piece as the foundation for each of their songs. Reflecting the increasing influence of classical music in the work of contemporary artists such as The National, Sufjan Stevens and the Decemberists, Goese and Neill reference Mahler, Berlioz, Bruckner, and others of the Romantic era to create a new form of lyricism that is distinctly contemporary, but colored with the dynamics and patina of the old music filtered through digital processing.
The end result is a heady musical blend of sounds that ranges from the chilled-out electronica of Air and Miike Snow to the symphonic grandeur of Sigur Ros, M83, Band of Horses, and Mew. Goese’s lyrics bring an emotional power that reflects her fascination with nature and contemplative thought, themes that exemplify the 19th century romantic sensibility. Songs for Persephone creates an ideal vehicle for Goese’s powerfully evocative vocal and performance style, as well as for Neill’s performance on his self-designed instrument, the mutantrumpet.
