Named for Victor Hugo's beneficent bishop, Bienvenu is a welcoming word of grace which sets in motion a journey full of tension and struggle. There is darkness and desolation to be found on the road, but there is also hope. Always hope. And in the end, we find ourselves just where we began, with that simple grace continually urging us to call the journey home. As a self-portrait of sorts, this album demanded a community for its creation. Fifty-nine beautiful people make their presence explicitly felt on this record, just as hundreds—even thousands, perhaps—have made their presence felt in and through my own life. My many thanks go out to each of them, as well as to everyone and everything that has ever challenged, inspired, and endured me. My particular thanks belong to my wife, who lent not only her beautiful voice, but her patience and encouragement at every step along this journey. ---------------------------------------------------- All songs written, produced, engineered, and mixed by daniel couper except: "Sometimes," written by Nathaniel Couper and "Sail," written by Valerie Couper ---------------------------------------------------- Album artwork by Kathryn Cachiaras