Block Out The Sun Victor Krummenacher

• 1 Time Will Do Us No Favors 03:52
• 2 Peace At The Water's Edge 05:39
• 3 Block Out The Sun 06:26
• 4 The Horizon Line 03:47
• 5 Your Last Winter Comes 04:44
• 6 The Sky Gone White 04:10
• 7 Give Me A Boat To Cross The Sea 05:26
• 8 Hard Times Have Come To Stay 03:06
• Total Runtime 37:10

Info for Block Out The Sun

Victor Krummenacher returns with his first set of new solo material since 2021.

"I'm not always a fan of explaining what my music 'means' or what it's about," Krummenacher reflects. "I feel that if I do my job well as a player and writer, the music should make sense to the listener. Block Out the Sun is a dark album—a reflection of the times we live in, as well as the process of getting older and dealing with loss. These are universal themes, not necessarily unique, but I tend to follow my headspace when writing. That's usually where I work best as a songwriter."

This album marks an evolution of the writing style Krummenacher began with Silver Smoke of Dreams in 2021. "While I'm a firm believer that there's no one right way to write a song or make a record, I also think that holding yourself to certain constraints within a project can be the best approach," he explains.

For Block Out the Sun, Krummenacher embraced spontaneity: once he had an idea, he recorded an improvisation, keeping the process as fresh as possible. He didn't write lyrics down beyond rough ideas—most vocals and lyrics were improvised on the spot until something felt right, leaning into an automatic creative process.

"I didn't use a click track—I prefer a more human feel," he notes. Once the songs were sketched out, he headed to LA to overdub drums with Michael Jerome. Though he used many samples, he worked to preserve an organic sound. "I considered adding more live strings, but something about the synthetic elements enhanced the album's sense of unease. I wanted the musical environment to feel a little surreal, with each choice reinforcing that mood."

Beyond the technical aspects, what emerged feels more like a film by Kurosawa or Chris Marker than a conventional album. "In my mind's eye, I kept seeing coastal cliffs, dry fields, forests, and rivers—clouds, mist, ice, and snow," Krummenacher describes. "I embraced that imagery as it came, aiming to create a sense of place—a setting where the characters in the songs could seek refuge."

He refined each performance until everything solidified, writing lyrics only when the song felt complete. "Gallows humor mingles with resignation; our fate hangs in the balance, suspended in a surreal atmosphere. Astute listeners might pick up on references to various songwriting heroes, but nothing is too overt."

"One thing I've learned over 40 years of recording music is that the less I think, the better the outcome," Krummenacher observes. "Songs are little universes unto themselves, each with its own internal logic and laws of physics."

The result is less a collection of songs than a cinematic experience—a meditation on disquieting times. "We all seem exhausted. For me, confronting that darkness emotionally felt necessary. In the end, I believe this is the best album I could have made—an honest reflection of our time and place. It wasn't premeditated or overthought, just in tune with the moment."

Krummenacher acknowledges the challenges of independent artistry: "It's become harder to make ends meet and bring projects like this to life. While I plan to record more music, the uncertainty of the world offers no guarantees. Every project carries more weight these days. That's part of why this album feels so strong and fully realized."

Having done enough work over the years to feel confident in his creation, Krummenacher prefers to let the music speak for itself. "My hope is that this record strikes a balance between comfort and somberness—offering some relief amid hard contemplation."

Victor Krummenacher

Please Note: We offer this album in its native sampling rate of 48kHz, 24-bit. The provided 96kHz version was up-sampled and offers no audible value!

Victor Krummenacher
is a co-founder of the bands Camper Van Beethoven and Monks of Doom and a songwriter who has released 11 albums. Krummenacher is also part of the collective The Third Mind with Dave Alvin, David Immerglück, Michael Jerome and Jesse Sykes. He currently resides between Portland, Oregon and Riverside, California.

As a recording artist, Krummenacher has been active for more than 40 years and has worked with numerous artists including Cracker, Chrlie Parr, Eyelids, M. Ward, The Minus Five, Steve Barton, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Camper Van Chadbourne (with Eugene Chadbourne) as well as Two Heads (featuring John Moremen, DJ Bonebrake and Willie Aron), Mushroom, Magnet, and Robi Del Mar.

Krummenacher has pursued a solo career as a singer-songwriter since 1994. His tenth solo album, “Silver Smoke of Dreams,” was released in 2021. A compilation of archival material, “If The Devil Gives Me House and Home” was released on September 27, 2024 and a new collection of songs “Block Out The Sun” will be released in 2025.

Other recent projects include the album “A Colossal Waste of Light” by Eyelids, on Jealous Butcher, and the sophomore album from The Third Mind, simply entitled “2”, as well as a live release from The Third Mind entitled Live Mind, available on Feb. 14, 2025.

This album contains no booklet.