"jordan's songs are not as flowery as what you might think of when you think of classical guitar music; they tend towards a starker, more contemporary style, playing with the spaces between the notes, the diminishing sustain, the fluid rumble of a repetitive fingerpicking pattern on nylon strings, the interplay of dissonance and harmony in groups of notes, and perfect execution. most of the songs are short sketches that seem to flow seamlessly into one another, with the exception of the roughly seven minute excursions at the front and back of the album. this is an easy album to get lost in, each time i have listened to the LP i am surprised as if woken from a daydream when the side ends, especially at the end of the lengthy and mesmerizing final track, 'whydah flats'. i highly recommend getting a copy of this limited edition LP."
Modern Folk Music of America
Much needed reissue of the extremely limited 2017 debut LP by Virginia guitarist, Jordan Perry. We were turned on to it when Chris Guttmacher at Blue Bag Records in Cambridge told Kassie Richardson of Good Cry (who did the initial 100 pressing) to send us a copy. He thought we might be into it, and halfway into one spin we knew he was right.
There have been several fat boatloads of acoustic guitar players floating across our turntable the past few years. And to be honest, we’ve dug the majority of them. Seems like there must be a lot of good stuff in the water, or something. Despite this, a preponderance of the players we’ve enjoyed have definitely been in the American Primitive mode. Lots of swift modal aktion with a folk/blues base, invaded by various foreign agents. Jordan Perry’s approach to his guitar is quite different.
Although there are some basic völk sonorities in his playing, Mr. Perry’s brunt combines these with more avant garde note selections and compositional gambits, as well as a string attack with classical qualities. While there’s a gentleness to the melodies at which he eventually arrives, Perry’s journey crosses prickly patches of tone clusters, and has a circular logic that defies pop logic. A few passages recall moments on All Is Ablaze, our recent album with experimental player Julia Reidy (FTR 338), while some of the open strumming has a beautifully languid quality verging on mid period William Ackerman.
All of which makes this a record very deserving of much personal headspace. Give Jordan Perry some room and you’ll be very glad you did. We promise. -Byron Coley, 2018
credits
released May 12, 2016
recorded in spring 2016 by ned oldham
mastering by ned oldham and travis thatcher
An ethereal combination of harp, electric guitar, and near-subliminal vocals, sounding not unlike a lucid dream only dimly recalled after awakening. neu-mann
I have loved the dixie Humming birds since the 1960s, but have never heard their early work--amazing. Listening to all this wonderous harmony and spirit comes close to restoring my lost faith in Christianity. ronspin
Space rock jams get experimental and slightly evil with zoned out synths and wheezing guitar lines plus soft, sweet vocals. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 20, 2017
Bruce Russell of The Dead C comes to Bandcamp, bringing with him an archive of rare & unreleased material, with more in the coming months. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 22, 2021
St Celfer returns with tracks culled from a series of live shows, each one a showcase for his inventive experimentalism. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 26, 2023