For those unaware, Ember Days (out February 12th, 2021 via Multiphase Records) is the latest CD release from Carl Weingarten.

Carl is an American guitarist, photographer and founder of the independent music label Multiphase Records. Described as one of the best indie musicians working today by the San Francisco Chronicle, Carl is best known for his atmospheric sound and his innovative use of the slide guitar and Dobro.

Furthermore, Carl has played a significant role in the progressive independent music scene since the 1980s, recording numerous solo and collaborative instrumental albums.

Indeed, much of the music here on the just-released Ember Days was produced during the Covid shut-in, during which Carl performed and recorded nearly all the instruments.

The CD contains 10 new instrumentals that range from the smoky jazz club mood of Geola, to the rock-fusion guitars of Goodbye Sun, to the elegant choral inspired title track, all composed around Carls signature guitar sound.

1. Round Robin (4:44)
2. Brother Mountain (5:42)
3. What The Raindrop Saw (5:36)
4. Goodbye Sun (5:18)
5. Ember Days (5:09)
6. Geola (5:27)
7. Skying Out (4:25)
8. Blue Spaces (4:40)
9. A Solitary Interlude (4:22)
10. What The Raindrop Saw (Cafe Mix) (5:51)

This truly beautiful album opens on the Summers drive, top down breeze of Round Robin and the more sedate, playfully cautious Brother Mountain, before bringing us the mid-tempo, free flowing atmospheric ambiance of What The Raindrop Saw, the forthright guitar work of Goodbye Sun and then the orchestrally magnificent gossamer of the title track, Ember Days is brought forth.

Next up is the shimmeringly ornate guitar work of Geola and the gently frenetic hipsway of Skying Out, which is in turn backed by the reaching, Pink Floydesque majesty of Blue Spaces, with the album rounding out on the veritable chiffon aura of A Solitary Interlude, closing on a new Cafe Mix of What The Raindrop Saw.

Ember Days was created under the condition photographers call available light, Carl explains. With the Covid shut-in I had little choice but to work on my own without the pleasure of the in- person collaborations that have been so rewarding on my previous releases including, Life Under Stars and This Is Where I Found You.

So, I challenged myself to become my own ensemble, if an unlikely one. Despite all my experience as a composer, it felt like I was starting from scratch. As a guitarist, most songs were first inspired there, usually a guitar phrase or a melody.

As the songs developed, I created orchestrations with whatever sounds and instruments I had available in my studio, like my keyboard, sampled sounds, pedal effects, sound effects, acoustic and electric guitars, all played and recorded in real time.

So what began as madness eventually became a method, and over the months that followed and the music simply fell into place. I was also fortunate that several musician friends were able to record remotely.

They contributed generously to selected songs and include: Michael Manring (bass), Ulrich Schnauss (synthesizers from London), Kit Walker (piano from Uruguay), Tate Bissinger (vocals), Pete Calandra (keyboards from New York), David Udell (guitar) and Walter Whitney (keyboards) my Delay Tactics bandmates from St. Louis.

Amazon Purchase Links

www.carlweingarten.com

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Carl Weingarten @ YouTube

Carl Weingarten @ Flickr