Two Handed Engine On the Making Of ‘Two Handed Engine’
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind ‘Two Handed Engine’ and the story it tells?
Late 90s indie rock is definitely one of the inspirations. From Murder City Devils to Songs Ohia, as well as bands like The Old 97s and Guided by Voices. The other major influence was probably the diverse, northwest area of Philly where we were all living. It’s a really unique part of the city with sections of abandoned factories, amazing historic buildings and massive parks: there’s a great balance of hard scrabbled and bucolic beauty.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for this album to life?
We worked with Jackie Milestone from Headroom Studio to mix the recording. Jackie was instrumental in shaping and refining the sound of the LP and really emphasizing the best parts of it. They changed the direction of some of the songs quite a bit from our original ideas and made them more multi dimensional and interesting overall.
Have you noticed any particular interpretations or connections that listeners have made with this album?
A few people have commented on the poppy, twee punk strain that runs through some of the songs. They've said it reminds them of a few of the K records bands. That hadn’t occurred to us, but it make sense, and it’s a comparison we love!
Are there any future plans or projects related to this album that you're excited about?
We’re in the beginning stages of recording a new set of songs and will be playing some shows in support of this album.
Are there any specific themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
I think a very broad perspective theme that runs through the album is that of change; from its ordinary, every day form to its more cosmic scope. Songs like No Destination, Atlas Palms and others are about tough shifts in life. As the renowned Buddhist meditation master, Ajahn Chah said “the cup looks solid, but it’s already broken.” Transients and impermanence are inevitable, but the question is how are you going to relate to them? In this case, we wrote some songs.
