Heavenly Recordings Presents: The Sonic Journey of Tapir!
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Heavenly Recordings is home to a diverse array of artists including Anna Burch, audiobooks, Baxter Dury, and now, the London-based 6-piece, Tapir! Having recently marked their Heavenly debut with the 4-track ‘Act 1 (The Pilgrim)’, Tapir! has now released a video for ‘Gymnopédie’, the first track from ‘Act 2 (Their God)’, which is available digitally. This EP also includes a narrated interlude from Little Wings.
The graceful ‘Gymnopédie’ is a track that references Erik Satie, Woody Guthrie, and the ancient Greek Gymnopaedia festival of naked dancing by the sea. It paints a vivid picture of a dysfunctional heaven, climaxing into a lo-fi symphony that seems to hover on the edge of a cliff before transforming into a surreal chorus that hints at a rather unorthodox version of heaven.
The band has shared their thoughts on the video, explaining that it integrates the fictional narrative of the pilgrim into the real world. The video, part of the album’s companion film, follows the protagonist as they traverse grassy knolls and stumble upon a film set on the beach, becoming part of a symbolic reenactment surrounded by Pyrrhic dancers and receiving sacraments from a femme Jesus.
‘Act 2 (Their God)’ transports the listener to a fictional universe filled with green hills, choppy seas, and red creatures. It continues the narrative from ‘Act 1 (The Pilgrim)’, detailing the Pilgrim’s adventure through this mysterious land, encountering strange characters along the way.
Produced by Joe Futák and featuring backing vocals and violin from Christie Gardner and Helen Dixon of the London-based duo Lilo, ‘Gymnopédie’ is part of the ‘Act 2 (Their God)’ EP. This is the second part of Tapir!’s debut multidisciplinary narrative album, which will be released over time as three episodic EPs and then compiled into a complete album in early 2024.
Ike from Tapir! shared his thoughts on ‘Act 2 (Their God)’ and ‘Gymnopédie’, expressing that the EP feels melodramatic and theatrical, but also humorous. He finds ‘Gymnopédie’ to be grandiose and camp, resonating with him emotionally. He appreciates how the EP draws inspiration from biblical and mythical sources, and how the songs, written a long time ago, fit into the project’s narrative.
Tapir! has also announced live dates, including performances at the End of the Road Festival, Moseley Folk Festival, and the Float Along Festival in September, and the Mutations Festival, Avalon Café, and Live at Leeds Festival in October.
Tickets for the ‘Act 2’ EP launch at Avalon Café in Bermondsey, London, and other live dates are available now.
Stay connected by following Tapir! and Heavenly Recordings on social media.
