Stash is the new album by BCMC the Chicago based duo comprised of Cooper Crain from Bitchin' Bajas and Bill Mackay, who make ambient instrumentals for now people. Recorded by Cooper at Sweat Loge Studio and Greg Norman at Electrical Audio onto 4 and 8-track tape, mixed by BCMC at Sweat Loge Studio onto 2-track tape, Mastered and lacquer cut by Paul Gold at Salt Mastering.
The album opens with Cleanse that seeks to Cleanse all the usual rhythms from your brain, helping you to engender a feeling of intense wellbeing, like you have just had your gloop Cleanse drink and are ready for a full flush to your system, long tonal keys and picked guitar help with the Cleanse.
Boulevard Treats opens with a slow keyboard figure, swirls of guitar adornments giving this a feel somewhere between a church organ recital and a Doors style keyboard solo, that has some slow intricate elucidations. Melodia Compacta slow neo-celeste keyboards take us into a relaxed journey, allowing listeners to float away on feelings of calm well-being, while preparing for some transcendental meditation.
Kaleidasmoke has been deeply inhaled, when you finally exhale, purple tinges to white and grey plumes filling the room, bringing an organic high to the chilled neo medieval soundscape they have conjured up. It slowly intensifies with the smoke working its magic on your mind, the patterns shift and shatter like your cortex being split asunder.
Fin De Journee you have arrived and are wondering if you should disembark or not, is this really where you hoped to end up, or is this just somewhere to pass through, slow searching guitar seeks meaning while it navigates a way through the minimalist organ parts.
Stella Solitaria is for that sad moment when you realise all you can afford to drink is one solitary can of Stella Artois, but you have a thirst in need of far more, slowly the heavier church organ arrives like you are in your own personal horror movie, desperately combing your house for a few more coins, so you can at least get that second can.
Tete-A-Tete you need a talking too, about how you improvise on that organ, are you trying to outdo Sun Ra or do you want to find a way to be more like Jimmy Smith with the longer tones, before the guitar comes in with heartbeat style bass notes and conciliatory tones keeping the peace in the neighbourhood.
The album closes with the slow strummed Badland Rag like they have sat up till 5 in the morning watching Badlands over and over, finally feeling they know what it is really about and are ready to evoke the feelings the film has brought up in them, supple improvised guitar and keyboards with another worldly feel.
Find out more at https://www.dragcity.com/products/stash https://bcmc.bandcamp.com/album/stash https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063274477118
