Steve Gunn – Music For writers (Opaque orange vinyl)

Steve Gunn’s compositions, from either his instrumental or vocal-accompanied work, have always been studies in tension. “Music for Writers”, the first Gunn album under only his name since 2021, takes those studies to a new level. It is an instrumental album based around guitar, synths and more, it leads the listener to tightly and deeply focus on minute changes and variations in style. It is a masterpiece in fragile, small-scale world-building that occupies a unique space within Gunn’s wider discography. Composed and recorded during Gunn’s time at the Pedvale Art Residency in Latvia, the tracks result from Gunn pairing new audio to the experiences in the area surrounding the compound and photography he took while on the grounds. The results range from the wistfully evocative and inquisitive “Park Entrance” to the inviting and exploratory “Pedvale Sunrise”. This listener keeps getting pulled into the entrancing gravitational pull of “Slow Singers On The Hill”.