https://preview.ibb.co/frM5WT/shylayers_gateway.jpg
Was wibbling about this guy on the 2018 albums thread, but maybe let's talk about it here instead. Shy Layers is JD Walsh, and so far he's put out one album in 2016 simply titled Shy Layers, and the follow-up is being released on May 25 by Beats In Space. To be honest, I wasn't immediately grabbed by the debut - it's a subtle, bashful music, much like the name suggests - but it's something I've been listening to more and more over the last six months for some reason, so I'm pretty excited to hear the new stuff. Pitchfork described them as "Balearic pop with overtones of yacht rock, Kraftwerk, and Graceland”. I'm hearing a little of the pop side of Eno, a little Arthur Russell, maybe a dash of Jim O'Rourke circa Insignificance. Playful, sunny, always focused around a laid-back groove.
Here's the lead track off the new one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYuYnAdVZ7Q
― chant down basildon (NickB), Tuesday, 22 May 2018 21:28 (five years ago) link
And here's something off the first record...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qub22Uo_d_M
― chant down basildon (NickB), Tuesday, 22 May 2018 21:29 (five years ago) link
Oh look, another track off the new one, first time I've heard this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFwx4Ay70CU
― chant down basildon (NickB), Tuesday, 22 May 2018 21:41 (five years ago) link
That one's a lot more guitary if that's your thing. Still gorgeous though.
― chant down basildon (NickB), Tuesday, 22 May 2018 21:44 (five years ago) link
cheers NickB
― Hire Planes (dog latin), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 06:51 (five years ago) link
Listened to the 2016 album last night. What a nice, relaxed, unassuming and personal listen with some of that same delicate sensibility as Arthur Russell. Definitely looking forward to the new one.
― Milton, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 09:54 (five years ago) link
been listening to gateway a lot recently, it absolutely rules
― nxd, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 10:05 (five years ago) link
this makes me think of Plone, Grumbling Fur, few other things
― Hire Planes (dog latin), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 10:43 (five years ago) link
The highlife component of their music kind of reminds me of a less cringingly self-conscious Dirty Projectors.
― chant down basildon (NickB), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 10:51 (five years ago) link
Cue ogmor lambasting me for not listening to Eric Agyeman instead
― chant down basildon (NickB), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 10:53 (five years ago) link
Yeah there's a bit of John Wizards in there as well. It's pleasant
― Hire Planes (dog latin), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 11:00 (five years ago) link
his vocals on the first album stopped it being truly great for me but his voice sounds much better on "Gateway"
― boxedjoy, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 16:22 (five years ago) link
I'm guessing that's a guest vocalist that comes in like Luther Vandross at the end of Gateway - wonder if he recruited them like the female vocalist on the first album (through a craigslist advert) and if they're going to be popping up elsewhere on the new one?
― chant down basildon (NickB), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 16:29 (five years ago) link
Another new one, strong Hosono vibes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbCAdmysIT0
― chant down basildon (NickB), Thursday, 24 May 2018 07:09 (five years ago) link
those tracks live up to the very promising reference points listed, looking forward to this album
― ufo, Thursday, 24 May 2018 16:57 (five years ago) link