When not being amazing in Nadja, his incredible band of guitar greatness, Aidan Baker is quietly playing shows all over this planet of ours and recording more music than you can imagine. Playing support to Sharon van Etten last February is just one of the side effects of being a prolific artist, people notice you when you’re good at it. For the curious among you out there looking for something to occupy you on a fresh autumnal evening, I can’t recommend a better place to be:
Aidan Baker is a musician and writer currently based here in Berlin. Classically trained in flute, he is self-taught on guitar, drums, and various other instruments.
As a solo artist, Baker explores the deconstructive sonic possibilities of the electric guitar as a primary sound source, creating music that ranges from experimental to post-rock to contemporary classical.
Baker has released numerous recordings on record labels around the world and has published three books of poetry. In addition to his solo work, he also performs in Nadja, Whisper Room, and ARC.
Joining Baker on his recent tour is Noveller (Sarah Lipstate) from New York. Glacial Glow, released on Weird Forest Records, was released in May last year and is still one of my favourite discoveries of this past year, after I eventually managed to get my hands on it after a ten week long wait and a screaming match with the customs morons. The things I do for vinyl.
Artifact is the name of her very latest record and will be available at the shows and on double LP very soon in Europe.
Here’s the video for End:
Sarah Lipstate is Noveller and Glacial Glow is her most assured, accomplished statement to date. Lipstate largely sheds the distortion and feedback present in much of her earlier work. Instead, she relies on instantly memorable melodies, a wider sonic palette, and excellent pacing to deliver arguably her best album.
Noveller announces her intentions from the opening track, appropriately titled “Entering”, as the syncopated rhythm of the melody represents a new twist from her previous guitar work. This is only the hors d’oeuvre for the stunning “Glacial Wave”, which drifts along serenely until Lipstate rains down gorgeous arpeggios like icy shards from the heavens. Other pieces feature sparse arrangements anchored by pulsing throbs which evoke a subtle, creeping anxiety more menacing than the feel-good retro-horror soundtracks making the rounds these days.
