Artist William Schaff clearly has some talented friends in music, as today brings the third time this year his work has arrived alongside new tunes of note. Now the Molina cartographer, Allysen Callery collaborator, and longtime Okkervil River pal has created a map of Will Sheff’s hometown for the band’s upcoming concept record. The Silver Gymnasium reminisces on Sheff’s formative years in the small New Hampshire village of Meriden — a quaint, New England town packed with indie-rock-ready stories. The songs themselves are driven by nostalgic narratives, but Sheff and Schaff have made a more immersive way of visiting the LP’s inspiration, as well, in the form of an interactive 1986 map soundtracked by an instrumental cut with narration by the Okkervil River frontman. Visit the site by clicking through the illustration above and hear “Down Down The Deep River” below.
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