Fresh off the release of his experimental release “Shadow Fall”, LA-based experimental artist Jared Matt Greenberg, aka THE PAPER SEA (Whale Fall, Charles Atlas, The Rosemarys) is back with another music video in support of the LP. Directed and edited by Jared Matt Greenberg, with videography by Malika Henderson (starling murmurations) and Jared Matt Greenberg (piano), the music video for “Starling Ballet” can be checked out right here, courtesy of Where Post Rock Dwells.
This song was composed on piano in 2007 or 2008 and has long been a favorite JMG composition of Greenberg’s Whale Fall bandmates. An earlier version, with piano only, was featured in the documentary Rett: There Is Hope by Jason Rem (2011). The album version was completely re-recorded.
Greenberg decided to try adding other instruments to what was planned as a solo piano piece: first the synth melody played on a Moog, then keyboard strings, and finally an upright bass sound. Around the time of the track’s completion, Greenberg’s cousin, Malika Henderson, shared footage she had just shot of Starling Murmurations from the San Francisco Bay Area.
The coordinated dancing movements of the starlings recalled the bouncing piano and synth melodies of the track, making for the perfect track title. It was then only logical to wed the footage to the music, and the video for “Starling Ballet” was born.
Composed, performed, arranged, engineered, produced, and mixed by Jared Matt Greenberg. Mastered by Damien Rasmussen for smokeandmirrorsaudio.
FOR FANS OF: Harold Budd, George Winston, Ólafur Arnalds, Eluvium, Yann Tiersen, Dustin O’Halloran, Haushka, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Whale Fall.
“A hypnotic headphone album that changes vibes appropriately without sacrificing attention.” — Drew Lundberg, Echoes & Dust
Described by Captured Howls as “uplifting ambient music” and by We Write About Music as “compelling and hopeful,” Shadow Falls features Greenberg on various keyboards as well as cornet, guitars, and percussion. Keyboardist and founding member of early ’90s San Francisco shoegaze band The Rosemarys and core member of the instrumental group Charles Atlas, Greenberg has also played with John Vanderslice, Primitive Painters, Dart,Sutro, An American Starlet, Carta, and others. Since 2011, Greenberg has earned critical acclaim (A Closer Listen, Echoes & Dust, Spectrum Culture) for his cornet and keyboard work as part of Los Angeles post-rock quintet Whale Fall. After experiences touring the world and placing music in film and television, Greenberg comes home with THE PAPER SEA: intimate, personally crafted instrumental music. Shadow Falls displays a variety of influences ranging from new wave and ambient to world music, classical, and jazz, and resonates with childhood memories, wistful moments, melancholic longing, and lasting love.
“A hypnotic headphone album that changes vibes appropriately without sacrificing attention… the delicate intertwined with the raw and powerful. A feeling of loss and rebirth. A feeling of departure and optimism.” — Drew Lundberg, Echoes & Dust
“Greenberg has used the last year or so to mine a seam of intimate creativity… an outstanding piece of work.” — Ben Twomey, Veil of Sound
“Compelling and hopeful… Shadow Falls is a record that we are overwhelmingly recommending you put into your listening lineup as soon as you can.” — We Write About Music
