Centered around front man/songwriter Michael Herrman (guitar/vocals), and comprised of Mississippi Studios' owner Jim Brunberg (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Will Amend (bass, cello, backing vocals), Ben Landsverk (viola, backing vocals), and Josh Lava (drums, backing vocals), Buoy LaRue's reformed line-up has never been stronger and makes their debut on Lover By Proxy.
While their debut, Spin Out of This, focused on lush arrangements and leaned heavier on the chamber side of things, Lover By Proxy - and the new band - expand on the album's previous lush-ness while adding more of a rock heart.
"As a young songwriter in the 90s, writing those powerful guitar pads and thick drum rhythms, with soaring vocals, was what I knew how to do best," comments Herrman. "Over time, that sensibility changed and morphed naturally into other genres and styles. Which is one of the reasons why this EP means so much to me."
The past year has seen a lot of changes in Herrman's personal life, which has directly influenced his songwriting, and propelled him to constantly write, resulting in an EP that is a prelude to a forthcoming full-length to hit in early 2013.
"Lover By Proxy sees the band heading in a new direction, but it also still holds true to the sound that I defined Buoy LaRue with and fell in love with several years ago," explains Herrman. "The record captures the energy and power of simplicity in my younger-writing-style with, hopefully, a little more sophistication that I've picked up along the way."
Featuring guest appearances by Blitzen Trapper's Erik Menteer, who played moog and guitar on the record, and mixed by Brunberg, whom after mixing the album decided he wanted to join the band, Lover By Proxy is Buoy LaRue's strongest offering to date, and hints at what is to come later on.
