Mikel Dimmick Spiral Joy Band: Wake of the Dying Sun King

Media: CD
$11.00

Newest release from the Spiral Joy quartet of Mikel, Amy, Nathan and Mike, wrapped in awesome artwork by Emily Keown (creator of covers for Spiral Joy Band's "Pores in the Porch and Puddles Beneath" and Pelt's "Bestio"). First two tracks, "Wake of the Dying Sun King" and "A Fading Trail of Sparks" have bits of electronics mixed with the struck metal, strings and percussion (all performed live of course; no overdubs or post-effecting), while last two, "A Spiral Dance" and "Long Shadows Beneath the Moon," mark the band's move into the all-acoustic territory where it's resided for the most of the time since.

"Wake of the Dying Sun King is the second full-length of epic meditative drone from this Southwestern Virginia collective. Like Pelt (with whom it shares several members), Spiral Joy Band uses mostly acoustic instruments to create slow, building pieces rich with human detail. The steady rolling of multiple Tibetan bowls, bowed and struck gongs, hypnotic fiddle, sruti box, and other instruments are recorded live in continuous performances that frequently stretch beyond an hour per piece. The performance aspect is key to Spiral Joy Band's aura - the variations in approach, force, etc. with which each tone is played, and the clear, open recording (mostly in Blacksburg's Glade Baptist Church) highlight the subtleties of the music. Wake is a much more percussive set of music than Spiral Joy Band's previous 'Lullabies for Jeff Dean' CD, with Nathan Bowles' expert percussion lending a lot more clang to the mix."

Wake of the Dying Sun King Reviews

• ... there’s an honesty in this approach, as if a different tack would dilute the interplay and ring false. (Dusted Magazine)
• ... a liberated psychedelic chamber music... (Rough Trade)
• Captivating, nuanced music that demands full attention ... (Other Music)