Phil Geraldi’s music is something else. To many, the kind of experimental, folk tinged ambient pieces he produces may just sound like noise. But if you pop on your headphones and just surrender yourself to the ebb and flow of his latest EP, “Steele, ND,” you quickly find out just how musical they are. Geraldi’s compositions are constantly morphing, like evolution and devolution are simultaneously happening in real time.
On “North Dakota Sundown,” ghostly synth pads fade in and out of existence, replaced at times by distorted voices and static. On “Blood Runs Green Into Summer,” an angelic acoustic guitar refrain floats by just under gathering clouds of chaotic noise. On “Abducted,” leaves and twigs crunch under the feet of someone unknown as pedal steel-sounding synths, reversed acoustic picking and distorted strums battle for supremacy. On EP closer “Scan & Seek,” a breathy vocal loop repeats as hypnotic drums and guitar flourishes slowly build tension.
Much of the EP sounds like someone is slowly twisting the radio dial, discovering new and fascinating mixtures of sounds and making what was once familiar entirely new. And it’s that feeling of exploration and discovery that makes listening so enthralling.
Phil Geraldi, “Veil of Misty Tears”: The EP’s longest track is also its least representative. “Veil of Misty Tears,” is the most straightforward song you’ll find on “Steele, ND.” Yes, there’s the crackling static lurking on the edges of the languid acoustic guitar picking. Yes, even the guitars are made warbly, almost as if they are played from a decades-old cassette tape.
But listening to this more standard composition is far from the mind-bending sonic experience induced by listening to much of the rest of the release. So, give it a try. If you dig it, play the EP from the beginning. Heck, play the whole release even if you don’t. A little bit of dissonance ain’t gonna’ kill you.
Like what you hear? Catch Phil Geraldi live at Crescent House on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Do you have a “Song of the Week” suggestion?Shoot us an email and a sentence or two about why you’ve been bumping this song lately. Friendly reminder: all songs should be by local artists.
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