“The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory.” —Gary Zukav
As part of a new series of Solstice and Equinox cassette releases to mark the seasonal cycle, Beacon Sound presents a live concert recording by Luke Wyland. Recorded one year ago today as part of a winter solstice concert at the United Congregational Church in Portland, the album marks the return of Wyland to the acoustic piano.
"A year ago I committed myself to re-establishing my relationship with the acoustic piano. It was like welcoming back an old friend, I was shy and tentative at first but hopeful. There is such weight in the significance of this instrument in Western culture and it's easy to be intimidated by the lineage of masters who've played it. My hands are stocky and my fingers short. I have never been one to practice scales or do exercises no matter how much I tell myself I should. I could easily spend lifetimes learning it and still feel like a novice. I did however set myself a timeline of a year to craft a solo set and was fortunate enough to perform on the solstice right before the Omicron wave hit Portland. I had a pathway, some melodic themes, and an incredible Steinway to find inspiration with and something magical emerged." – Luke Wyland 12/21/21
Everything you hear is performed in real time with the piano as the only sound source.
Special thanks to Andrew at Beacon Sound for pushing to release this live recording.
Mixed by Luke Wyland
Mastered by Jason Powers
BNSD071
Each digital download includes both the individual songs and, as bonus tracks, lengthier 'Part 1' and 'Part 2' segments.
credits
released December 21, 2022
Luke Wyland is an American interdisciplinary artist, composer, performer, and arts organizer who achieved international success as the multi-instrumentalist, singer and founder of the art-pop band AU (2005-2013). He has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe and has released records on New Amsterdam Records (US), Beacon Sound (US), The Leaf Label (EU), Aagoo (US), Hometapes (US), Crammed Discs (EU), Inpartmaint (Japan), and Pop Frenzy (Australia), amongst others.
His current project, Methods Body, is a collaboration with virtuosic drummer John Niekrasz. Their debut album was released by New Amsterdam Records and Beacon Sound in 2020.
Luke Wyland is an interdisciplinary artist, composer, performer, and arts organizer. Wyland’s current solo piano work uses
time manipulation technologies to craft landscapes of immersive sound. As a stutterer, Wyland’s approach to music is informed by his idiosyncratic relationship with language....more
Improvisations with sound artist Ulises Conti spurred this Argentinian composer to write these adventurous, reflective piano pieces. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 4, 2017