Acoustic folk/blues troubadour Ryley Walker follows 2016’s excellent Golden Sings That Have Been Sung with Deafman Glance – a more playful, improvised and non-linear release. Many of the songs on Deafman Glance ignore conventional song structures, taking the listener on a meandering journey filled with guitar, piano, bass, flute lines and synth. To quote Walker, “I was under a lot of stress because I was trying to make an anti-folk record and I was having trouble doing it. I wanted to make something deep-fried and more me-sounding…I just wanted to make something weird and far-out that came from the heart… it’s more Chicago sounding…like a train constantly coming towards you but never arriving.” Deafman Glance was co-produced by Walker and LeRoy Bach (Wilco, Liz Phair) with recording and mixing by Cooper Crain (Bitchin’ Bajas, Cave) primarily at JAMDEK Studios in Chicago. Walker plays both electric and acoustic guitar and was joined by longtime collaborators Brian J. Sulpizio and Bill Mackay (Darts and Arrows), who both play electric guitar on the album. Additional instrumentation is provided by LeRoy Bach (electric guitar), Cooper Crain (synths), Andrew Scott Young (Tiger Hatchery) and Matt Lux (Iron and Wine) on keys, Mikel Avery and Quin Kirchner (NOMO, Lucky 7’s) on bass and percussion, and finally rounding out this who’s-who of Chicago musicians is Nate Lepine (Iron and Wine, Tim Kasher) on flute and saxophone. Standout tracks include: the psych-folk opener “In Castle Dome”; the progressive lead single “Telluride Speed”; the melodic yet downbeat “Can’t Ask Why”; the slow-burning anti-folk freakout “22 days”; the Sun Ra-esque free-form jazz track “Accommodations”; the country-tinged “Expired”; the krautrock rhythmic experiment “Opposite Middle”; and the gorgeous closing track “Spoil with the Rest.” In all, Deafman Glance is an experiential album that hits lofty heights and radiates chill sonic vibes, a true accomplishment of musical mysticism. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Daniel Bachman, Steve Gunn, Woods, William Tyler