Hudson Valley NY-based singer-songwriter Ryan Martin has announces his new album Wandercease (PRE-ORDER) out October 23 on NYC label High Moon Records (home to Ace of Cups and reissues from Love, Terry Dolan, Gene Clark and more). The album was produced by Kenny Siegal (Langhorne Slim, Joseph Arthur, Chuck Prophet) at Old Soul Studios in Catskill, NY and mixed by Paul Kolderie (Pixies, Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr.).
Wandercease is Martin’s most musically adventurous and emotionally authentic record, blending masterful melodic instincts with giant musical hooks and a vibrant, multi-hued sonic palette. Wandercease ranges from deep introspection to radiant joy. Confidence and curiosity combine to create an expansive and cohesive sense of mood and place.
The album was born from change: Martin’s relocation northwards, from New York City to the more tranquil vistas of the Hudson Valley. Producer Kenny Siegal (Langhorne Slim, Joseph Arthur, Chuck Prophet) recorded all the sessions at his Old Soul Studios in Catskill, NY. Siegal proved the ideal collaborator, at turns inspiring and being inspired by Martin. He dug deep into the songs, finding their essential seeds, and then drew from the goldmine of local musicians—many fresh from working with artists such as Waxahatchee, Sean Lennon, Kevin Morby and Norah Jones—to imbue the music with sounds both ethereal and earthy, futuristic and ancient, celebratory and melancholic. Adding to the alchemy, the tracks were mixed with the deft and painterly touch of Paul Kolderie (Pixies, Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr.).
The album’s first single, “Coma Kiss,” with its infectious vocal hook and irresistibly buoyant groove, set against Moog and piano interplay, washes over the listener with the feel of an instant classic. Beneath the charm lie darker sentiments about a failed relationship — but that lovely dissonance between song’s feel and the story Martin tells is part of the magic.
One key musical presence is singer-songwriter and classically-trained harpist Mikaela Davis. Playing treated-harp on “Coma Kiss,” as well as providing utterly sublime backing vocals, Davis was initially enlisted by producer Siegal to play harp on a couple songs. When she spontaneously began singing harmony vocals during a rehearsal of “Coma Kiss,” Martin and Siegal were floored. Davis ended up singing and playing harp on much of the album. Her shimmering harp playing and stunning vocal contributions are perfectly situated on Wandercease, elevating its intriguing blend of homespun Americana, processed rhythms and warm electronic touches.
Tracklist
1. At Dusk
2. Coma Kiss
3. Orphan Song
4. Wandercease
5. Shame
6. Fathers To Daughters
7. I Just Wanna Die
8. The Vulture
9. Blue Rose
10. Silver Chariot
11. The Waking
12. I Want You To Dance
13. Warm Lakes
