HEAR: Avant-Pop | Church Chords – “She Lays On A Leaf”

Chris Ryan November 16, 2023 Hear, Indie Earworm, Read, See No Comments

Church Chords announced their debut album, elvis, he was Schlager, set to release on February 23rd via Otherly Love Records. “She Lays On A Leaf” is an experimental and unique track that entrances the listener. On first listen you question it but then immediately find yourself obsessed with it! The collaborative recording project led by musician/producer Stephen Buono brings together accomplished musicians from his time spent in Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, to create music that honors experimentation and collaboration.

Church Chords returned to share “She Lays on a Leaf,” their avant-pop krautrock featuring guitar from Nels Cline (Wilco) and vocals by Finom’s Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham alongside Ricardo Dias Gomes (Caetano Veloso), who also penned the song’s lyrics.

When asked about the track, Buono shared more about collaborating with Cline: “For this song, I asked Nels to imagine John McLaughlin playing the opening guitar solo on ”Mother Sky” by Can. I think the solo on the alternate version is one of his best on record. It is such an integral part of the song that I gave him writing credit. On the album version, I love how co-producer John Herndon synthesized the solo to sound like I don’t know what.”