cicada by ilyAIMY

"cicada" is ilyAIMY's 10th album. Released in the summer of 2017 in time to an off-year brood, the album was written (with the exception of the spoken-word piece “Cicada Summer”), recorded and mixed by rob Hinkal. Gordon Nash (Wise Madness) placed cicada on his Top 10 Albums of 2017 alongside the likes of Bela Fleck and Anais Mitchell writing that “Cicada is the oddest album on the list... it's so good … a lightning strike to your nervous system. You are not going to sit still while listening” and calling Natural 20 “the ultimate nerd love song”.

"cicada" saw the debut of drummer Joey Jenkins, now making the full band a 6-piece ensemble. Musically, the band stretches its chops and boundaries even further on this album, featuring new instruments, new styles and a few guest artists. Singer/songwriter Seth Horan was especially impressed as the band pushed boundaries. Seth (who’d also listed “cicada” on his top 10 albums of 2017 alongside friends like Amber Rubarth and bigger name albums produced by Ani Difranco), writes "rob steers the band through uncharted territory... [though] rob has honed and owned aggressive syncopated rapid harmony folk… it's cool to hear the album start with something cinematic and unsettling [Georgetown] or break into something reggae-influenced [Common]... for those familiar with the group this is an evolutionary album like you haven't heard before."

Rowan adds didgeridoo drone to "Georgetown" and "Spring." Kristen breaks out her steel drums on the aforementioned "Common," and even sneaks in an accordion track on "Ode To a Heat Vent." rob adds baritone guitar, fretless bass and banjo. Notable special guests include Baltimore rapper & beatboxer Chuck The Madd Ox on "Spring," Steve Smith's mandolin on "Ode To a Heat Vent," Artem Bank's electronic percussion and literal heartbeat on "Secret Surgery," and Mosno Al-Moseeki's djembe on "Georgetown."

From a fan (Liam G.): "This...is a masterpiece! I don't care what genre(s) you feel yourself anchored to; THIS will pull at your heart strings and set you aflame. Across its tracks it makes me dance like a fool, feel empowered, and thumb away tears from soaking up the passion they've poured into this record. Some songs I've loved for years and some stunning new gems. Do yourself a favor, dive right in."

Tracklist

1.	Georgetown	4:18

2.	Glom of Nit	5:16

3.	Common	5:13

4.	HARM	6:04

5.	Cicada Summer	3:42

6.	Secret Surgery	5:41

7.	Ode To a Heat Vent	4:38

8.	Looking Back	3:34

9.	Friday	3:45

10.	Terms	5:41

11.	Natural 20	4:50

12.	Negative Space	6:39

13.	Stay Close	5:16

14.	Spring	4:52

15.	Artem Bank - Secret Surgery (Ghost Dive Mix)	5:53

Credits

released June 15, 2017

rob Hinkal: guitar, vocals, baritone guitar, fretless bass, eBow, banjo
Heather Aubrey Lloyd: vocals, djembe
Kristen Jones: cello, electric cello, vocals, steel pan, accordion
Rowan Corbett: bones, djembe, cajon, vocals, didgeridoo, percussion
Sharif Kellogg: piano, bass, vocals
Joey Jenkins: drums, vocals

Special guests:
Artem Bank: beating heart & percussion on "Secret Surgery"
Chuck Maddox "The MADD OX:" vocals, beat box on "Spring"
Mosno Al-Moseeki: djembe on "Georgetown"
Steve Smith: mandolin on "Ode To A Heat Vent"
The Natural 20 Chorus (Susan Schneider & Ryan Kunkle)

All songs written & copyright 2017 by rob Hinkal & arranged by ilyAIMY, except the rap in "Spring" (Chuck the MADD OX) and "Cicada Summer" written by Heather Aubrey Lloyd. All songs recorded & mixed by rob Hinkal, except mandolin on "Ode To a Heat Vent" (recorded by Steve Smith) and electronic wizardry on "Secret Surgery" by Artem Bank. Mastered by Bill Wolf & Greg Lukens at L-W Studios in Alexandria, VA.

License