Music

PREMIERE: Listen to Shotgun Jimmie's new album 'Field of Trampolines'

by Adria Young

Photo: Colin Medley

Last summer, just after Sappyfest 10 in Sackville, New Brunswick, Shotgun Jimmie and his new backing band, Winnipeg’s Human Music, drove a little farther east to Halifax to record Field of Trampolines with Joel Plaskett at his analogue New Scotland Yard studio. And man, oh man, this record is a beauty.

Filled out by harmonic vocals, Joel Plaskett Emergency-style flourishes (it’s a certain vibe), the occasional organ and Jimmie’s travel-diary lyrics, the album cover features a sculptural piece by Jimmie, who has been studying fine art in Manitoba since his last record, 2013’s Everything, Everything. The beach ball globe titled “Champion” is the key to the 10 tracks on Field of Trampolines, representing the summertime feeling, the various trips across Jimmie’s world, and his life on tour so far.

“Human Music and I came into his studio the day after finishing a Canadian tour,” says Jimmie. “We were high on life, loving playing and loving hanging out together. Joel distilled our sound as a band and captured our vibes on tape.”

Joel and Jimmie go together like sand and the beach. In 2011, they released a split 7″ on Plaskett’s vinyl imprint, New Scotland Records, with two songs that poked fun at the comparisons and similarities in their songwriting styles. Field of Trampolines also reflects that relationship but these songs feel much more mature, stripped down, a bit lighter and much cleaner than 2011’s Transistor Sister, but still super playful.

“Before Field of Trampolines, I never considered working with a producer,” Jimmie explains. “I thought it was too important a role and that it wouldn’t be a Shotgun Jimmie record if someone else took that on. I had worked with producers on small projects but never on one of my albums.”

“The decision to work with Joel was made while he shredded a guitar solo at Sappyfest 8,” he continues. “I’ve been a big fan since the ’90s, but I realized during that guitar solo: ‘This guy is an absolute genius, one of the all-time greats. I’d be an idiot if I had the chance to work with him and didn’t.’ He was a dream to work with.”

Field of Trampolines is out Friday, March 18th on You’ve Changed Records and Jimmie will tour Canada in May onwards, which includes an eight-day residency at the Sackville artist hub, Thunder & Lightning Co. Stream the dream below and read on for his tour dates:

May 09-16 – Sackville, NB @ Thunder & Lightning
May 17 – Charlottetown, PE @ Baba’s Lounge
May 19 – Fredericton, NB @ Wilser’s Room (early show – 8pm)
May 20 – Halifax, NS @ Gus’ Pub
May 21 – Sydney, NS @ St. Patrick’s Church
May 25 – Montreal, QC @ Brasserie Beaubien
May 28 – Toronto, ON @ The Monarch
May 29 – Windsor, ON @ Phog Lounge
May 30 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah Lounge
June 02 – Saint Catharine’s, ON @ Detour Music Hall
June 03 – Guelph, ON @ eBar
June 04 – Sudbury, ON @ Cosmic Dave’s Vinyl Emporium
June 20 – Edmonton, AB @ The Needle Vinyl Tavern
June 22 – Vancouver, BC @ The Lido
June 27 – Lethbridge, AB @ The Owl Acoustic Lounge
July 22-24 – Bengough, SK @ Gateway Festival