The Valerie Project

A psych-folk supergroup, the Valerie Task is headed by Espers’ Greg Weeks and includes that band’s Brooke Sietinsons and Helena Espvall, in addition to Fern Knight’s Margaret Wienk, Jesse Sparhawk, and Jim Ayre; Fürsaxa’s Tara Burke; and Lawn’ Jessica Weeks; alongside Mary Lattimore and Charles Cohen. The Valerie Project’s luxurious sound — which includes harp, cello, analog synths, woodwinds, chimes, bells, and Jew’s harp — can be inspired with the 1970 Jaromil Jires film Valerie and Her Week of Miracles, a surreal coming-of-age story book that was one of the last from the Czech New Influx functions. Weeks and collaborator Joseph Gervasi prepared a project to generate alternative soundtracks for renowned cult movies, and Valerie was near the top of both of their lists. After assembling the players that could end up being the Valerie Task, the ensemble started performing live schedules using the film in 2006. Later that season, Lubos Fisher’s first rating to Valerie and Her Week of Miracles premiered by Finders Keepers, raising the film’s prominence. In 2007, the Valerie Task played a lot more dates, like the Jarvis Cocker-curated Meltdown celebration that summertime. The group also documented its self-titled debut record that season (in only eight times); it had been released by Move City past due that fall, simply as the music group embarked on another tour.