{"product_id":"jaimie-branch-fly-or-die-ii-bird-dogs-of-paradise-ia11-edition","title":"jaimie branch - FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise (IA11 edition)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003ejaimie branch’s FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise, originally released in the fall of 2019, was hugely anticipated in its time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRoughly 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efoundation 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ebird dogs of paradise also introduced the wider world to branch’s singing voice. “prayer for amerikkka pt. 1 \u0026amp; 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.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased November 20, 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ejaimie branch – trumpet, voice, synthesizer, percussion, bells, sneaker squeaks\u003cbr\u003eLester St. Louis – cello, percussion\u003cbr\u003eJason Ajemian – double bass, percussion\u003cbr\u003eChad Taylor – drums, xylophone\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ewith special guests:\u003cbr\u003eBen LaMar Gay – voice (on track 2)\u003cbr\u003eMarvin Tate – voice (on track 2)\u003cbr\u003eMatt Schneider – 12-string guitar (on track 2)\u003cbr\u003eDan Bitney – percussion, synthesizer (on track 8)\u003cbr\u003eScott McNiece – egg (on track 8)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll compositions by jaimie branch, except “birds of paradise,” “whales,” and “bird dogs of paradise” composed by jaimie branch, Lester St. Louis, Jason Ajemian \u0026amp; Chad Taylor; and “lesterlude” composed by Lester St. Louis.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded mostly at Total Refreshment Centre (tracks 2–7 \u0026amp; 9) and Café OTO (tracks 1 \u0026amp; 8) in Dalston, London UK, November 20th–25th, 2018.\u003cbr\u003eEdits \u0026amp; overdubs at Dave’s house in Pilsen, Chicago, December 2018.\u003cbr\u003eFinal dubs \u0026amp; mixing at Decade Studios in Old Town, Chicago, January 2019.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMastered at Chicago Mastering Service in Garfield Park, Chicago, March 2019.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded by Dave Vettraino \u0026amp; David Allen\u003cbr\u003eRecording Assisted by James Dunn \u0026amp; Kristian “Capitol K” Robinson\u003cbr\u003eEdited by jaimie branch \u0026amp; Dave Vettraino\u003cbr\u003eMixed by David Allen \u0026amp; Dave Vettraino\u003cbr\u003eMastered by Shelly Steens\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCover Art by jaimie branch \u0026amp; John Herndon\u003cbr\u003eCover Design by Damon Locks \u0026amp; jaimie branch\u003cbr\u003eInsert Cover Photo by Peter Gannushkin\u003cbr\u003ePhotos from TRC by Fabrice Bourgelle\u003cbr\u003ePhotos from Café OTO by Dawid Laskowski\u003cbr\u003eOriginal Insert Design by Craig Hansen\u003cbr\u003eIA11 Design \u0026amp; Layout by Aaron Lowell Denton\u003cbr\u003eExecutive Production by Scott McNiece \u0026amp; David Allen\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"license-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"license\" class=\"info license\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"cc-icons commercial\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eall rights reserved\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"International Anthem","offers":[{"title":"IARC0027 Limousine Black vinyl LP (IA11 Edition)","offer_id":52121003426066,"sku":"IARC0027LP11","price":20.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"IARC0027 Digital Download","offer_id":52121003458834,"sku":"IARC0027","price":8.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/6989\/0578\/files\/a4102833518_10.jpg?v=1773955065","url":"https:\/\/shop.intlanthem.com\/products\/jaimie-branch-fly-or-die-ii-bird-dogs-of-paradise-ia11-edition","provider":"International Anthem","version":"1.0","type":"link"}