Richard Russell's project Everything Is Recorded has consistently thrived on collaboration, merging genres and voices into a result that transcends the individual elements. With ‘Temporary’, the third album under this name, Russell changes direction, prioritizing melody over rhythm and delivering his most delicate, radiant work to date. ‘Temporary’ serves as a reflection on impermanence, loss, and existence itself, resonating both on a personal level and universally.
From the beginning, the tracklist resembles a dream selection for enthusiasts of genre-defying music. The guest roster is impressive: Sampha, Florence Welch, Bill Callahan, Noah Cyrus, Berwyn, Kamasi Washington, and others contribute their skills to this expansive yet intimate creation. However, what sets ‘Temporary’ apart isn’t solely its collaborators; it’s Russell's ability to curate and integrate their voices into a unified narrative.
The album commences with ‘October’, a gentle prelude that establishes the mood for what follows. Fragments of dialogue ebb and flow, reminiscent of thoughts that are not fully formed and emotions that are barely understood. “Everything’s in a continuous state of flux,” muses Jah, while Sampha notes, “I am a living memory of the universe.” These instances feel profoundly personal yet hold universal significance, capturing the transient essence of experience and identity.
One of the notable collaborations, ‘My And Me’, features Sampha, Laura Groves, and Alabaster DePlume, delving into themes of solitude and self-deception. “I don’t want to be this lonely / But I don’t want to see my homies,” Sampha admits, revealing the internal struggle of craving connection while withdrawing into isolation. The hypnotic, multilayered production of the track further enhances its reflective quality.
The album also ventures into the surreal, as illustrated in ‘Porcupine Tattoo’, a poetic investigation of pain and transformation with Noah Cyrus and Bill Callahan. “I loved the pain once too / Porcupine tattoo,” they sing, conjuring the notion of emotional scars as both burdens and symbols of survival. The ethereal, sci-fi-influenced imagery elevates the song beyond mere heartbreak, placing it in the realm of cosmic narration.
‘Never Felt Better’, featuring Florence Welch and Sampha, navigates contradictions in its examination of emotional numbness. “I thought I was in so much pain / Never felt better,” Florence and Sampha sing, blurring the distinction between suffering and ecstasy. This track, like the entire album, offers no simple resolutions—only deeper, more complex reflections.
‘The Summons’ presents another profoundly emotional moment, addressing grief and the presence of those who have departed. “My dad came through and he said, ‘I’ve never been more close to you, and more here,’” Lisa reminisces. The track encapsulates the tension of absence and presence, a motif that resonates throughout the album.
As we arrive at ‘Goodbye (Hell of a Ride)’, the album has taken us through a spectrum of emotions—grief, wonder, introspection, and ultimately, acceptance. “Goodbye baby goodbye / You know it’s been one hell of a ride,” Nourished By Time sings, providing a farewell that feels both definitive and open-ended. As Gil reminds us in the outro, “As long as you live and as long as you continue, they will continue.”
This album stands as a testament to the strength of collective storytelling, reminding us that we are all part of something greater than ourselves. It's more than just a collection of songs—it's a vibrant, ongoing conversation about existence, remembrance, and letting go.
While previous Everything Is Recorded projects leaned towards groove and rhythm, ‘Temporary’ embraces space and tranquility. Motivated by the thought experiment “What if folk music had ‘gone digital’ in the 80s, just as reggae did?”, Russell creates soundscapes that are both warm and spectral, electronic yet natural. The melodies take center stage, guiding the listener through each track like a gentle flow.
Tracks such as ‘Swamp Dream #3’ and ‘The Meadows’ are rich in atmosphere, featuring intricate layers of instrumentation that unfold like a dream in slow motion. Meanwhile, ‘Goodbye (Hell of a Ride)’, featuring Nourished By Time, serves as a poignant conclusion—an elegy for the ephemeral nature of life and art.
‘Temporary’ may be one of the softest albums ever created about death, yet it also stands as one of the most life-affirming. Russell's choice to emphasize melody over rhythm results in an album that feels both weightless and profoundly impactful, akin to sunlight streaming through the crevices of a long-forgotten memory. Every collaborator on this record embodies the best version of themselves, elevating ‘Temporary’ into something genuinely exceptional.
For longtime fans of Everything Is Recorded, this album signifies a bold new chapter—shifting from frenetic energy to quiet
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Richard Russell’s Everything Is Recorded project has consistently flourished through collaboration, merging different genres and voices into a creation that transcends the individual elements.