Tucker Zimmerman’s career has been on the ascendant recently with a new album and a European tour, including a date at London’s Lexington in 2024. The upsurge of interest is due in no small part to the admiration of Big Thief and, in particular, Adrianne Lenker. Zimmerman supported them in 2022, and members of the band guested on his last album, “Dance Of Love”, issued on 4AD in 2024.
Big Potato Records has been curating a series of Zimmerman reissues and archive releases and has just announced a new unheard collection of his material titled “Music By River Words By Ear”, which will be released on 4th July 2025. The track ‘River Barge’ has been issued as a single and can be heard below.
The album consists of songs recorded with Dave Evans, Tucker’s son Quanah on guitar, Geert Waegman on fiddle and Jef van Cool on bass. Recorded in 2002, these tunes mark the first chapter of Zimmerman in the 21st century.
Nick Holton of Big Potato writes: “On my last visit to Tucker in the Belgian countryside, I picked my tea, as previously, from Marie-Claire’s great tray of assorted blends and was invited to choose my mug for the week. I apparently selected ‘Dave’s mug’ and was drinking ‘Dave’s English tea’. I felt very pleased sat there with Tucker and his wife, next to the warm stove. Dave Evans is on this album.”
He continues: ““Music By River Words By Ear” was also made in this environment. A wooden studio, in a wood, nestled on a little hill. Tucker and I curated this album pretty easily, as it is clearly a session, a collection, an album. I believe a very different album than any he’s released before. His sixty-year-old voice in fine form, mature, passionate, heartbreaking and strong.”
The album will be released on vinyl and digital formats and can be pre-ordered here.
