Downton Castles Can Never Block The Sun (1A11 Edition)

Description

Artist:

Ben Lamar Gay

Label:

INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM

Genre:

Jazz

Format:Vinyl LPReleased:28th March 2025Catalogue No:IARC17LP11Barcode:0634457197879

Description:

There is no one universe for Ben LaMar Gay, he just sonic booms from one sound to another. NPR Music Ben LaMar Gays de facto debut album, Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun, was our attempt to introduce the legendary Chicago composer / improvisor / renaissance man to the rest of the world with a compilation of tracks from 7 albums he made over 7 years but never made the effort to actually release. The material showcases Gays penchant for genre-hoppingfrom Reich-ian soundscape voyages to Don Cherry-esque polyrhythm treks to Jorge Ben-style vocal-and-string earwormswhile keeping his singular musical voice in focus. In the years since its release, this long OOP collection has become a touchstone, foreshadowing the breadth and scope of Ben LaMar Gays output since. The songs-between-the-songs warped Soul Americana madness and beauty of Open Arms To Open Us, the unhinged long form freedom of Certain Reverieseach fresh mode would defy expectation if without the context established by Downtown Castles. To quote the OG press release, to call it eclectic would only scratch the surface. This music is everything.