See You Tomorrow

About

See You Tomorrow is the twelfth studio album by American alternative band The Innocence Mission, released on January 17, 2020 by Bella Union in Europe and Australia, and by Thérèse Records in the United States and Canada. See You Tomorrow was recorded in the Peris' home, namely their basement and dining room. Lead vocalist and composer Karen Peris wrote and sings on ten of the album's eleven song, and plays the majority of instrument, while her husband Don sings lead on the song he composed, "Mary Margaret in Mid-Air". Bassist Mike Bitts performs upright bass on four track. Stereogum said themes of "Love, connection, community and understanding" are "at the core of the album, one that is steeped in awe and wonder, intense longing, sadness and joy; a rich sequence of songs that attempt to describe the essence of what makes us human." Folk Radio UK said it sees the band thematically evolve from their preceding album, 2018's Sun on the Square, by "touching on the major changes that happen in the life of a family", with Karen elaborating: "Great love of course contains great anxiety, for the safety and health of the loved one, for one's own ability to be a good enough helper and companion, for the future. And the intense desire to hold the present moment of togetherne, at the very least to store it up in vivid detail, so that it can be not lost at all." She said the lyrics of opening track "The Brothers Williams Said" were inspired by the "sense of misunderstanding that can happen to people who have a quiet nature." She conceded: "I struggle with being able to find words in conversation, so I'm always grateful to have the opportunity to have a conversation with people in song." Stereogum described "On Your Side" as a "lovely and understated track about how those who have passed on still live beside us", quoting the lyric "In my dream, I would be in Paris with my mom. In cafes she would sip coffee, she would be smiling on/ She'd say, 'I have never let you out of my sight. I have not gone.'" The lyrics of "St. Francis and the Future" were inspired by a Jan van Eyck painting. Karen explained: "A few years ago, during a visit to a museum with my children, I saw his painting Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata. The song 'St. Francis and the Future' was inspired by my memory of discovering this painting because during our visit, a tour guide had us look at a multitude of details using a large magnifying glass he had with him. In the background of the painting, there is this little town that most people wouldn't even notice, because they would be too busy looking at the foreground. On closer inspection, you end up perceiving birds and animal, but also the life of a small town. This painting not only tells us about this mystical image but also evokes a whole disappeared world. As often, one thought provoked another, and this day in the museum I began to imagine my children after we are gone, to imagine them looking at photos of our family and dwelling on the details of the backgrounds that were ultimately the reality of our live. This was a strange moment in the museum: me discovering the imaginary life of a village from the past thinking about the future of my children. This method of Van Eyck to focus on little details speaks to me a lot, because I believe the more we talk about the small moments in life, the more meaningful they become for other." .

via Last.fm

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