Collodion, the latest album of veteran guitarist and composer, Anthony Wilson, is 11 instrumental tracks brimming with sonic exploration and surprise, an electroacoustic experiment in which Wilson plays nearly all the instruments, with contributions from special guests Daniel Rotem (tenor saxophone), Anna Butterss (bass), Mark Guiliana (drums), Rob Moose (strings), Julien Knowles (trumpet), Jonah Levine (trombone).

The idea was to show up on a given day with nothing — no song, no charts, not even any instruments. What unfolded was a curious mix of improvisation, composition and production, all more or less simultaneously. The goal for each daylong visit was to have one piece largely completed.

“I never brought in a guitar of my own the whole time,” Wilson says. “The thought of doing things with instruments that I knew well, I just felt that wasn’t where I wanted to go. Pete [studio owner and producer on Collodion] has a couple great 335’s, beautiful old Martins in incredible condition, he’s got a gorgeous Jaguar, all kinds of stuff. If it was there, let’s plug it in. We just tried things. But it couldn’t be a traditional tone. We’d ask ourselves, ‘What does it need that will take it out of the realm of me just playing a guitar part?’ I tried to play in a way that wasn’t out of my hand habits, that wasn’t coming from the vocabulary I always play when I sit down to play. Automatically you go into the stuff you know. I was trying to be a little more uncoordinated and intuit ways of playing that could add to this other sonic thing that we were doing.”

“Collodion” is a viscous substance used in wet plate photography as well as theatrical makeup. When applied, it helps bring an image to life.

TRACKS:
1. Star Maiden / 2. Planetary Glide / 3. Keeping / 4. Arrival at Kanazawa / 5. Divine One / 6. Far Growing Nearer / 7. Dream Oracle / 8. Heart Whispering / 9. The Daughters of Night / 10. Collodion / 11. Muse of Joy

A few words from Anthony via @wilsonthecurator:

I am happy to bring you my new album of instrumental music, out at midnight tonight on @colorfieldrecords. (Link in profile.)

The esteemed folks at @fretboardjournal have said of my work, "You wouldn’t expect to be surprised by a new Anthony Wilson record because you’re already expecting something different."

So there you have it: expect something different, turn down the lights and let it play. It's a beautiful journey.

Thanks to Pete Min and all the artists who joined me on this album--more about them in the coming days! Thank you all for your interest and your ongoing support of my work. I think you know what it means to an independent artist like me.

Album art in the second image by @ron_jude. Portrait by @cfwein.