New - Mahlmeister, Donny - Paper Glacier - Cassette

The 8 tracks on "Paper Glacier", the newest solo release from Chicagoan Donny Mahlmeister have a singular sonic imprint that imparts a warm hazy glow. While not fully without melodic and rhythmic propulsion, they feel like the audio equivalent of a Rothko abstraction; lines are blurred on the edges with subtly shifting phrases that jump in and out of phase.

There is a slight roughness around the edges, partially because the tracks were improvised live without overdubs or editing, but also due to the parameters of the instruments used; analog synthesizers and digital samplers that have a tendency to skew towards the noisier end of the spectrum. "Paper Glacier" shows Mahlmeister embracing more of the restraints of a lower noise floor and a lo-fi recording quality than he typically favors on other work.

RIYL: Stars of the Lid, Cluster, Jogging House

Recorded live to stereo with minimal editing in the summer and fall of 2022, Oak Park, Illinois.

Donny Mahlmeister: Ciat-Lonbarde Cocoquantus, Sidrax, Serge modular, lapsteel guitar and Tasty Chips Gr-1

All music by Donny Mahlmesiter. Recording, mixing, mastering and album design by Donny Mahlmeister.

Art from publicdomaininreview.com. Studies on Twilight Phenomena, after Krakatoa (1888).