Paul Burch "Love Came Back" from the album Light Sensitive on Plowboy Records out 4/17/2020. Recording performed by Burch with bassist Dennis Crouch, tenor saxophonist Chloe Feoranzo, and harmony singer Carey Kotsionis. Produced by Burch & Crouch. Words and Music by Burch/Borrowed & Broke Music, BMI/Blue Water Music. Used by permission. The video was shot to Super 8 (digital) in April 2020 at the homes of Burch, Fats Kaplin, Carey Kotsionis, Robyn Hitchcock, and photographer Liz Tormes, Camille Brinson, and members of the WPA Ballclub family. Directed by Henry Burch. "
A couple of weeks back, superlative all-around musician Paul Burch and his long-running, ever-evolving and eclectic band the WPA Ballclub released a fantastic new LP titled Light Sensitive. Thanks to the necessary social distancing we're maintaining to slow the spread of COVID-19, the group hasn't been able to get together to celebrate said release. But they haven't let separation hold them back from working together on another project — that is, the music video for Light Sensitive's opening track “Love Came Back.”
The song navigates some complicated emotional territory. The central character has been burned in past romantic relationships. Over a dark, lively, sinuous groove, the narrator warily prepares to open themselves up again, questioning the love that's appeared on their doorstep: “You gonna stay long / Or just passin' through? / Speak up, love, and tell me true.”
Above, check out the video, which uses a series of black-and-white vignettes to convey the tone of the song pretty perfectly. Under the direction of Paul's son Henry Burch, who's a junior at Hume-Fogg, members of the Ballclub and friends contributed clips — you'll see singer Carey Kotsionis, bassist Dennis Crouch, phenomenal utility man (and magician) Fats Kaplin, tenor-sax ace Chloe Feoranzo and superlative songsmith Robyn Hitchcock.
There's also an array of footage shot just for the piece by two others: pro photog Liz Tormes and film photo scholar Camille Brinson, the latter of whom is a neighbor and family friend of the Burches and is a junior at Hillsboro High. Indeed, young folks made multiple key contributions to the piece; you'll see Calvin and Emory, the children of electric bassist Jim Gray, as well as Emmett and Alice, son and daughter of playwright Catie Baumer Schwalb (who shot the album's back cover photo and made some key lyrical contributions to "Fool About Me"). The elder Burch handled the technical side of the editing duties, though he says in an email that Henry, an exacting editor himself, is responsible for the feel and flow. Head over to Burch's website (or that of your favorite record store) to get your hands on a copy of the LP.
