Father John Misty – Off-Key In Hamburg (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

In the key of COVID-19 pandemic, Joshua Tillman, better known as Father John Misty, has released “Off-Key in Hamburg” comprising 18 tracks recorded in August 2019 with the Neue Philarmonie Frankfurt. This latest live album showcases his affecting voice, its melancholy timbre often contrasting the wry humour in his lyrics, and Tillman’s way with melody.

Recorded live at the shiny new Hamburg Elbphilharmonie concert hall on August 8, 2019 and with accompaniment not just from Father John Misty’s eight-piece band, but the acclaimed Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt orchestra, ‘Off Key In Hamburg’ is a high-end luxury offering. With no glitchy livestream to contend with or the logistical nightmare that would entail getting a full orchestra together at short notice – not to mention the fact that even an orchestra playing to an empty room would count as a verboten mass gathering – this instead is a sumptuous reminder of those big budget blow-out shows that will happen again one day, but not any time soon. A lavish, 20-song banquet with a 90 minute run-time – well, you’ve got the time now, haven’t you? – the album gracefully tracks Misty’s near decade long career progression from sassy folk hero with a one-liner always on hand to simmering philosophical showman and arch cultural commentator.

Tracklist:
01. Father John Misty – Hangout At The Gallows (04:51)
02. Father John Misty – Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings (03:22)
03. Father John Misty – Mr. Tillman (03:30)
04. Father John Misty – Disappointing Diamonds Are The Rarest of Them All (02:30)
05. Father John Misty – The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apt. (03:35)
06. Father John Misty – Strange Encounter (04:19)
07. Father John Misty – Total Entertainment Forever (02:47)
08. Father John Misty – Things It Would’ve Been Helpful To Know Before The Revolution (04:24)
09. Father John Misty – Ballad Of The Dying Man (05:03)
10. Father John Misty – A Bigger Paper Bag (04:34)
11. Father John Misty – I Went To The Store One Day (04:31)
12. Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On (03:52)
13. Father John Misty – Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins) (03:03)
14. Father John Misty – Please Don’t Die (03:30)
15. Father John Misty – The Palace (04:12)
16. Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer (05:35)
17. Father John Misty – Pure Comedy (06:22)
18. Father John Misty – Holy Shit (04:05)
19. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear (06:04)
20. Father John Misty – Leaving LA (12:28)

Personnel:
Daniel Bailey – Drums
Chris Dixie Darley – Guitars, Keytar, Vocals
Kyle Flynn – Keyboards
Corey Lareau – Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet
Kelly Pratt – Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Flute, Alto Saxophone
Eli Thomson – Bass, Synth Bass
Jon Titterington – Piano
David Vandervelde – Guitars, Keys, Vocals
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Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt:
Astrid Brachtendorf – Trompete
Norbert Porth – Posaune
Ralf Hübner – Violine 1a
Anna-Maria Barth – Violine 1b
Carlos Cota Lopez – Violine 2a
Esther Owusu -Violine 2b
Julia Mangelsdorf – Violine 3a
Sabina Bogus – Violine 3b
Pilar Carvajal – Viola 1a
Olga Hübner – Viola 1b
Camila Munoz – Viola 2a
Roland Kleinschmidt – Viola 2b
Astrid Naegele – Cello 1a
Ruben Jeyasundaram – Cello 1b