Photo by Jason Quigley

Black Prairie, the exploratory, back-porch ensemble founded by the Decemberists’ Chris Funk, Nate Query and Jenny Conlee, will release their second album, A Tear in the Eye, on September 18. The Tucker Martine-produced effort will serve as the follow up to Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, the debut album from the band and will be the first album to feature vocalist Annalisa Tornfelt. Tornfelt’s gentle, classic country-inspired singing is connected to the band’s Baltic-Appalachian instrumentals by strange, orchestral interludes. The record is an evolution of the band’s love of instrumental, Italian film score weirdness and the venerable, forgotten roots of American and Eastern European folk.

Formed in Portland in 2008, Black Prairie has become Portland’s beloved “house band.” Recently, they have recorded a series of collaborations with singers in their hometown. The first of these releases is a 7” with James Mercer of The Shins and Sallie Ford. Conlee and Query will also reunite with their old jamband Calobo this fall.