Ryley Walker is preparing to release his latest full-length album, Deafman Glance, on May 18th (Dead Oceans). The album features contributions from Cooper Cain (Bitchin’ Bajas, Cave), Bill Mackay, Brian J Sulpizo (Health&Beauty), Leroy Bach (Wilco, Five Style), Andrew Scott Young (Tiger Hatchery), Matt Lux, and others.
In a recent conversation with Laura Barton, Walker said this a more Chicago sounding record then his past two releases. In his words, "Chicago sounds like a train constantly coming towards you but never arriving. That’s the sound I hear, all the time, ringing in my ears. Everybody here’s always hustling….. This record is the sound of walking home late at night through Chicago in the middle of winter and being half-creeped out, scared someone’s going to punch you in the back of the head, and half in the most tranquil state you’ve been in all day, enjoying the quiet and this faint wind, and buses going by on all-night routes. That’s the sound to tune in to. That’s the sound of Chicago to me”. A love letter to Chicago, may be, may be not, but Walker shares what he has experienced on this album in a way he hasn’t before.
You can help Ryley celebrate his new album at Hungry Brain on May 18th (Sold Out!) and May 19th. (Photo by Guy Eppel)