Ric Hordinski - Flesh & Ghost LP
Limited edition physical release of Ric's new LP
Enjoy this awesome write up from the Nov. 13th issue of CityBeat.
Ric Hordinski, one of Cincinnati’s most admired musicians, will release his long-awaited and highly anticipated solo album, entitled Flesh and Ghost, on Nov. 24. This new collection of songs showcases not only his instantly recognizable guitar playing, but also his wide range of musical styles. From heartfelt folk ballads to heavy-hitting R&B spoken word anthems, Hordinski lays out a veritable musical banquet of everything that makes up his artistic world.
Limited edition physical release of Ric's new LP
Enjoy this awesome write up from the Nov. 13th issue of CityBeat.
Ric Hordinski, one of Cincinnati’s most admired musicians, will release his long-awaited and highly anticipated solo album, entitled Flesh and Ghost, on Nov. 24. This new collection of songs showcases not only his instantly recognizable guitar playing, but also his wide range of musical styles. From heartfelt folk ballads to heavy-hitting R&B spoken word anthems, Hordinski lays out a veritable musical banquet of everything that makes up his artistic world.
Joined by many incredible artists and musicians, Flesh and Ghost, recorded and mixed by Hordinski himself at his legendary Monastery Studio in Walnut Hills, delivers songwriting, arranging and performances at the highest level, all of which the public has come to expect and appreciate over the years.
Hordinski, a resident of historic Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, didn’t begin his musical journey as a guitarist. Though he did have a deep admiration for guitar, he started out playing the drums. Coming from humble economic means, playing the drums at school meant he only needed to purchase drumsticks, bypassing the need to invest in a full kit. It was during these early years that, while taking a break from drumming in the school band room, he opened one of the lockers and came upon a neglected Japanese electric guitar. “I literally dreamed about that guitar later that night,” Hordinski tells CityBeat. Then, at a yard sale, he purchased an acoustic guitar for $3. Determined to turn it into an electric instrument, Hordinski modified the guitar by taking apart an old dial-telephone and using the mouthpiece as a pickup. From there, his admiration grew into an obsession that carries on to this day.
In 1989, Hordinski, along with his college friend, Linford Detweiler, formed the band Over the Rhine with vocalist Karin Bergquist and drummer Brian Kelley rounding out the quartet. Hordinski would go on to perform many shows and release several albums with the band. Grateful for the time making music with Over the Rhine, Hordinski feels those years of making music were not only cherished moments of collaboration with friends but also an invaluable musical education that has played an enormous part in the evolution of his own music.
Inspired by the Dylan Thomas poem “Before I Knocked,” Flesh and Ghost showcases Hordinski’s musical evolution and hints at where it may lead him next. Songwriter, composer, arranger and producer — all facets of Hordinski’s artistry are captured in this deeply personal album. Finding the balance between spontaneity and craftsmanship is something Hordinski is always searching for. Taking elements from his live performance practices and braiding them with meticulously arranged pieces of music has been a welcomed challenge for him over the years.
Most comfortable performing music live, Hordinski is at ease being in front of a crowd. At the beginning of each performance, he usually turns to the band and looks at them as if to say, “Here we go. I have no idea what’s coming next, but let’s go together,” Hordinski tells CityBeat. Then, on the flip side, he takes writing and arranging as both a challenge and a craft to be approached. “It’s a life’s work to keep the subconscious/in-the-moment stuff happening while trying to do a journeyman’s work,” he says.
Flesh and Ghost, for Hordinski, is like a little love letter to Cincinnati, and especially to his adopted neighborhood of Walnut Hills. Having raised a family there and built Monastery Studio just across the street from his home, this historic area of the Queen City is near and dear to his heart. That love is felt in the song, “Very Smiling in the Sunshine,” which features sampled sounds of the neighborhood.
Reflecting on the subjects of life’s transitions, and grappling with outward and inward conflicts, Hordinski brings two songs in particular to the album that speak to his personal thoughts on these matters. In the song “Golden Hour,” Hordinski touches on the feelings one gets before a transition. From the passing of a loved one or a child leaving home, to even the end of a single day, “Golden Hour” emotes a sense of sweet melancholy that radiates from a glow of surrender. “Benediction” is a song inspired by a Chinese proverb about when bad news turns out to be good news, and vice versa, and a favorite quote of Hordinski by George Bernard Shaw that says, “There are two great disappointments in life: Not getting what you want, and getting what you want.” A meditation on life’s challenging unpredictability, Hordinski refers to the song as being an unconventional benediction.
A wealth of talented musicians helped make Flesh and Ghost. While Hordinski performed all the guitarwork on the album and sang most of the lead vocals, he was also joined by other peak-level vocalists and instrumentalists. Vocalists Sage Rose, Chaya Jones, Andrea Summer, Elsa Kennedy and Erica Bostick lend their voices to songs throughout, with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra members Paul Patterson and this author on violin, Ted Nelson on the cello, Craig Dockery on the piano and Matthew Wallenhorst on the saxophone. An impressive who’s who of bass players also perform on various songs on the album, including Amos Heller (the bassist for Taylor Swift), David Labruyere (former bassist for John Mayer), Matt Wiles, and Victor Krauss (the bassist for Lyle Lovett and Robert Plant). Drumming brilliantly across the record is Hordinski’s dear friend and long-time collaborator, Josh Seurkamp.
A wealth of talented musicians helped make Flesh and Ghost. While Hordinski performed all the guitarwork on the album and sang most of the lead vocals, he was also joined by other peak-level vocalists and instrumentalists. Vocalists Sage Rose, Chaya Jones, Andrea Summer, Elsa Kennedy and Erica Bostick lend their voices to songs throughout, with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra members Paul Patterson and this author on violin, Ted Nelson on the cello, Craig Dockery on the piano and Matthew Wallenhorst on the saxophone. An impressive who’s who of bass players also perform on various songs on the album, including Amos Heller (the bassist for Taylor Swift), David Labruyere (former bassist for John Mayer), Matt Wiles, and Victor Krauss (the bassist for Lyle Lovett and Robert Plant). Drumming brilliantly across the record is Hordinski’s dear friend and long-time collaborator, Josh Seurkamp.
Label: Ether Records
Condition: NEW