Odei

Shane Parish, formerly Shane Perlowin, is best known for his work in the experimental jazz-rock outfit Ahleuchatistas. But Odei is his first solo record under his new name—he changed his name in honor of his grandmother—and it marks a brilliant new direction. The album is a solo guitar set, and it argues that obscure sounds and inviting ones are not mutually exclusive. The sequence of Odei jars you, messes with expectations. We go from the quick-fire rattle of “Blind Contour” to the ruminant, eight minutes of atmosphere of “The Swallow”, from the stately phrasings and rundowns of “Rare Cry Blue” to the percussive sound experiments of “Barricades”. As with Ahleuchatistas, you can’t help but feel the tensions here are as political as they are personal, but there’s also a sense of playfulness in all this expression, even a sense of escape. There’s something almost spiritual in the execution that aligns Parish with the likes of Robbie Basho. Unlike Basho, though, Parish carves out spaces, defines the quiet around him rather than filling it up. Odei is a remarkable album, one that surprises in a new way with each listen. It may also be the best experimental album of the year. - Matthew Fiander, PopMatters, 12.9.14 "Odei" by Shane Parish will be released in a "vinyl cassette box" that will house the cassette tape & a digital download. Inserts are printed on 80# "Bright White" linen cardstock. The paper is acid-free, recyclable & elemental chlorine free. No metals or foils are used in the production process. Hand numbered edition of 100, indication on the back left panel. Professionally duplicated & imprinted by National Audio Company. Copper shelled Chrome+ cassette with white ink. Big format. credits released 26 January 2015 Recorded Late Spring 2014. Mixed & Mastered by Patrick Kuckucka at Hi-Z / Lo-Z Studios Asheville, NC. July 21,2014 Photographs by Mark Kuykendall thenewhoneyshade.com Layout by Matthew D. Nieto-Miller