Discovery Channel’s Life series has finally begun, but there are some other titular life endeavors to contend with (step aside, Milton Bradley). Sage Francis’s new LP, entitled Li(f)e, is due for release May 11 from ANTI-/Epitaph. According to Francis’ website, the album includes music composed by Jason Lytle (ex-Grandaddy), Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), Tim Fite, members of Calexico and DeVotchKa, and the late Mark Linkous (whose compositions are “then interpreted by Francis and the band”). To indify the rapper’s album further, producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine) and Califone’s Tim Rutili and Jim Becker make up that aforementioned band.
Perhaps the most unexpected collaboration, however, is with French composer Yann Tiersen on the track “Best of Times.” Despite first impressions, Francis wants to make abundantly clear that this isn’t just a random rap/hip hop + indie/anti-hip hop mash-up. According to Francis:
I sought out Yann’s soundtrack for Amélie immediately after first seeing the film,” he stated. “I would play the main song from it on piano from time to time. And when I received the music from him it just felt so heavy to me, so incredibly epic that I knew I had to make the most of it. I didn’t know what to do and then I stumbled upon this letter that I had written to my girlfriend a few years ago explaining where I was in life and what she meant to me and what I was hoping to accomplish. And the very first line of that letter ended up being the first line of the song. And when I put that down, it just sparked all these intense childhood memories. The song ended up being my own little movie with words.
Touching, isn’t it? For Tiersen’s sake, I hope Sage Francis realizes there’s more to his repertoire than the white-washed Audrey Tautou film with cute garden gnomes. Either way, should be interesting.
• Sage Francis: http://www.myspace.com/sagefrancis
• ANTI-: http://www.anti.com
• Epitaph: http://www.epitaph.com
