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jaimie branch - FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise (IA11 edition)
jaimie branch - FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise (IA11 edition)
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€20,95 EUR
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jaimie branch’s FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise, originally released in the fall of 2019, was hugely anticipated in its time.
Roughly a year before its release, and following the success of her debut Fly or Die album, branch whisked her incredible quartet across Europe for a string of performances. Across that November 2018 tour, the group stretched a songbook in-process to its limit, improvising en modo deconstructivo, tugging at the music’s edges and relentlessly morphing the sound of a four-fold liberation machine that included branch (trumpet), Chad Taylor (drums), Jason Ajemian (bass), and newcomer Lester St. Louis (cello), who had recently replaced Tomeka Reid.
Most of bird dogs of paradise was recorded in studio at Total Refreshment Centre over three days, and live at Café OTO over two nights that same week – at the tail end of the tour.
The album itself captures a very significant moment in the arc of branch's band. St. Louis’s presence had provided a fresh injection of virtuosic curiosity, and the interplay between him and Ajemian rejiggered the crew’s string-driven multi-rhythmic plonk swing while also refreshing their alternately aggressive and melodious heavy-bite bowing with an expanded pocket. It was a highly fertile foundation for branch to experiment and explore, reach for the nether regions of her instrument, and continue to focus and refine her flagship ensemble into a wholly original sound.
bird dogs of paradise also introduced the wider world to branch’s singing voice. “prayer for amerikkka pt. 1 & 2” - written and first performed by branch in Paris on the night of the 2018 US midterm elections - has since become a rallying cry for those who share her sense of justice in a world controlled by those who are seemingly unconcerned with it. And on “love song" (for assholes and clowns), branch shows us her cards with a wink and a smile. “So much beauty lies in the abstract of instrumental music,” branch says in the album’s original liner notes, “but being this ain’t a particularly beautiful time, I’ve chosen a more literal path. The voice is good for that.”
The IA11 Edition of FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise comes on classic black 140-gram vinyl LP (pressed at Pallas in Germany, with lacquers cut by Daniel K at SST) inside a heavyweight reverse-board jacket, with a 16-page 11x11" insert booklet featuring previously-unpublished photos, two sets of new liner notes – the first by jaimie’s mom, Soledad “Sally” Branch, as told to Kate Branch, and the second by Fly or Die bassist Jason Ajemian – plus IARC 2025 obi strip and printed poly-lined printed inner-sleeve.
Roughly a year before its release, and following the success of her debut Fly or Die album, branch whisked her incredible quartet across Europe for a string of performances. Across that November 2018 tour, the group stretched a songbook in-process to its limit, improvising en modo deconstructivo, tugging at the music’s edges and relentlessly morphing the sound of a four-fold liberation machine that included branch (trumpet), Chad Taylor (drums), Jason Ajemian (bass), and newcomer Lester St. Louis (cello), who had recently replaced Tomeka Reid.
Most of bird dogs of paradise was recorded in studio at Total Refreshment Centre over three days, and live at Café OTO over two nights that same week – at the tail end of the tour.
The album itself captures a very significant moment in the arc of branch's band. St. Louis’s presence had provided a fresh injection of virtuosic curiosity, and the interplay between him and Ajemian rejiggered the crew’s string-driven multi-rhythmic plonk swing while also refreshing their alternately aggressive and melodious heavy-bite bowing with an expanded pocket. It was a highly fertile foundation for branch to experiment and explore, reach for the nether regions of her instrument, and continue to focus and refine her flagship ensemble into a wholly original sound.
bird dogs of paradise also introduced the wider world to branch’s singing voice. “prayer for amerikkka pt. 1 & 2” - written and first performed by branch in Paris on the night of the 2018 US midterm elections - has since become a rallying cry for those who share her sense of justice in a world controlled by those who are seemingly unconcerned with it. And on “love song" (for assholes and clowns), branch shows us her cards with a wink and a smile. “So much beauty lies in the abstract of instrumental music,” branch says in the album’s original liner notes, “but being this ain’t a particularly beautiful time, I’ve chosen a more literal path. The voice is good for that.”
The IA11 Edition of FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise comes on classic black 140-gram vinyl LP (pressed at Pallas in Germany, with lacquers cut by Daniel K at SST) inside a heavyweight reverse-board jacket, with a 16-page 11x11" insert booklet featuring previously-unpublished photos, two sets of new liner notes – the first by jaimie’s mom, Soledad “Sally” Branch, as told to Kate Branch, and the second by Fly or Die bassist Jason Ajemian – plus IARC 2025 obi strip and printed poly-lined printed inner-sleeve.
released November 20, 2025
jaimie branch – trumpet, voice, synthesizer, percussion, bells, sneaker squeaks
Lester St. Louis – cello, percussion
Jason Ajemian – double bass, percussion
Chad Taylor – drums, xylophone
with special guests:
Ben LaMar Gay – voice (on track 2)
Marvin Tate – voice (on track 2)
Matt Schneider – 12-string guitar (on track 2)
Dan Bitney – percussion, synthesizer (on track 8)
Scott McNiece – egg (on track 8)
All compositions by jaimie branch, except “birds of paradise,” “whales,” and “bird dogs of paradise” composed by jaimie branch, Lester St. Louis, Jason Ajemian & Chad Taylor; and “lesterlude” composed by Lester St. Louis.
Recorded mostly at Total Refreshment Centre (tracks 2–7 & 9) and Café OTO (tracks 1 & 8) in Dalston, London UK, November 20th–25th, 2018.
Edits & overdubs at Dave’s house in Pilsen, Chicago, December 2018.
Final dubs & mixing at Decade Studios in Old Town, Chicago, January 2019.
Mastered at Chicago Mastering Service in Garfield Park, Chicago, March 2019.
Recorded by Dave Vettraino & David Allen
Recording Assisted by James Dunn & Kristian “Capitol K” Robinson
Edited by jaimie branch & Dave Vettraino
Mixed by David Allen & Dave Vettraino
Mastered by Shelly Steens
Cover Art by jaimie branch & John Herndon
Cover Design by Damon Locks & jaimie branch
Insert Cover Photo by Peter Gannushkin
Photos from TRC by Fabrice Bourgelle
Photos from Café OTO by Dawid Laskowski
Original Insert Design by Craig Hansen
IA11 Design & Layout by Aaron Lowell Denton
Executive Production by Scott McNiece & David Allen
jaimie branch – trumpet, voice, synthesizer, percussion, bells, sneaker squeaks
Lester St. Louis – cello, percussion
Jason Ajemian – double bass, percussion
Chad Taylor – drums, xylophone
with special guests:
Ben LaMar Gay – voice (on track 2)
Marvin Tate – voice (on track 2)
Matt Schneider – 12-string guitar (on track 2)
Dan Bitney – percussion, synthesizer (on track 8)
Scott McNiece – egg (on track 8)
All compositions by jaimie branch, except “birds of paradise,” “whales,” and “bird dogs of paradise” composed by jaimie branch, Lester St. Louis, Jason Ajemian & Chad Taylor; and “lesterlude” composed by Lester St. Louis.
Recorded mostly at Total Refreshment Centre (tracks 2–7 & 9) and Café OTO (tracks 1 & 8) in Dalston, London UK, November 20th–25th, 2018.
Edits & overdubs at Dave’s house in Pilsen, Chicago, December 2018.
Final dubs & mixing at Decade Studios in Old Town, Chicago, January 2019.
Mastered at Chicago Mastering Service in Garfield Park, Chicago, March 2019.
Recorded by Dave Vettraino & David Allen
Recording Assisted by James Dunn & Kristian “Capitol K” Robinson
Edited by jaimie branch & Dave Vettraino
Mixed by David Allen & Dave Vettraino
Mastered by Shelly Steens
Cover Art by jaimie branch & John Herndon
Cover Design by Damon Locks & jaimie branch
Insert Cover Photo by Peter Gannushkin
Photos from TRC by Fabrice Bourgelle
Photos from Café OTO by Dawid Laskowski
Original Insert Design by Craig Hansen
IA11 Design & Layout by Aaron Lowell Denton
Executive Production by Scott McNiece & David Allen
all rights reserved
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