#shy layers

Song of the Week 02/07/2025

Shy Layers - Gateway

Anagrams - Roll Call / Springs (Self-Released)

released October 24, 2020

Anagrams is the duo of JD Walsh (Shy Layers) and composer/saxophonist, Jeff Crompton. The two are neighbors in Atlanta and decided to collaborate on a couple of pieces that make up their debut 7″ release. If Shy Layers with a little jazz thrown in the mix sounds like a winning combo, you would be correct with that assumption.

The A-Side is “Roll Call’ and pays respect to southern jazz musicians that have recently passed away. Walsh reads the musicians’ names over his vocoder solo during the track. Here Walsh provides the groove as Crompton wails with beautiful abandon on the horns. It’s a moving tribute to those lost.

The B-Side is “Springs” which was written by Walsh on acoustic guitar. Crompton adds a lovely four part clarinet arrangement to the piece. This track is most reminiscent of Walsh’s Shy Layers project, although a bit more relaxed in its approach.

With how great these two debut pieces turned out, let’s hope the duo of Anagrams continue to pool their talents and create more together.

Shy Layers - Enter At The Edges (sound as language)

released October 2, 2020

(My sound as language label is releasing Shy Layers’ new EP on cassette so I am definitely not an unbiased participant here)

With each new release producer JD Walsh continues to sharpen the focus of his Shy Layers project. Enter At The Edges sees Shy Layers a its most accessible entry point but don’t let that deter you. There is still more than enough left-field pop to engage with here. With past comparisons from Arthur Russell to Paul Simon still relevant, the eccentric art pop of Peter Gabriel also comes to mind as these songs play on. Enter At The Edges expertly merges the past melange of sounds from Shy Layers with newfound elements that only strengthen the project. Walsh shows off an emphasis on lyrics and vocals have become a greater focal point as well. Shy Layers is evolving and Enter At The Edges is another fascinating step in that evolution. Not exactly sure where Walsh will take Shy Layers next but I can’t wait to find out.

Sorry I’m ignoring the Fiona Apple-sized elephant in the room and going with these release picks instead. Enjoy!

Blushh - R.I.P. Apathy (Self-Released)

- R.I.P. Apathy is just a great punky indie guitar rock album. These songs will get stuck in your head, I promise you that.

https://blushhmusic.bandcamp.com/album/r-i-p-apathy

Hollow Comet - CUES VOL. 1 (Self-Released)

- Second album from the solo project of Strange Ranger’s Isaac Eiger and it’s an unexpected foray into ambient/electronic waters that sounds perfectly natural and right on time.

https://hollowcomet.bandcamp.com/album/cues-vol-1

Chad Matheny - United Earth League of Quarantine Aerobics (Dreams of Field Recordings)

- Chad Matheny aka Emperor X returns with a new digital EP continuing his eclectic blend of folky political punk rock.

https://emperorx.bandcamp.com/album/united-earth-league-of-quarantine-aerobics

Matthewdavid - Experimental Bliss (Umor Rex)

- Title kinda sums it up honestly. Blissed out ambient drone on the great Umor Rex label.

https://umorrex.bandcamp.com/album/experimental-bliss

Yumiko Morioka - Resonance (Métron)

- Beautiful ambient piano album from 1987 re-released by the Métron label (home to two of my favorite albums from last year, OCA & Meitei).

https://metronrecords.bandcamp.com/album/resonance

Ruven Nunez - Within Dreams, Without Dreams (Longform Editions)

- The spiritual nature of Nunez’s guitar playing is a perfect fit for a Longform Edition.

https://longformeditions.bandcamp.com/track/within-dreams-without-dreams

Adam Oko - Diet Of Germs (Music From Memory)

- Originally released in 2015 this is some nice chilled out ambient with a bit of a tropical flare that fits perfectly on the always reliable Music From Memory label.

https://music-from-memory.bandcamp.com/album/diet-of-germs

perila - tracking stones within four walls / air of spring in lungs (self-released)

- Coming completely off the radar for me, this is some deep crackling ambient dub with occasional soft spoken word over the top. This one goes on my best of 2020 list real quick.

https://perilazone.bandcamp.com/album/tracking-stones-within-four-walls-air-of-spring-in-lungs

Shy Layers - Composition For Loud Magic (Longform Editions)

- Shy Layers has been one of my favorite projects over the last couple of years. This new piece for the wonderful Longform Editions project is the most ambient work done by Shy Layers and frankly it suits him well.