Sky
Available on CD/Digitally
From the opening, wistful ‘Bear in Shamanic Transformation’ to the deep and doleful ‘The Curve’, from the Chopin-influenced ‘Sweeping Staircase’ waltz to the raunchy ‘Not Necessarily Stoned, ‘SKY’ features diverse compositional styles and mastery of instruments. Sixteen tracks that take the listener on a 52-minute a sweet, luscious road trip, one that pulls the listener in, leaving them wanting to take the SKY trip endlessly.
Recorded by Jeff Cressman Studios in San Francisco, and mastered by Jeremy Goody of Oakland, and produced by Bernard and Custer, SKY is made of mostly first takes, with very little over-dubbing.
Sonically, Custer’s growling bass and soaring Bb clarinets, and her unique, tender voice mix enticingly with Bernard’s palate of guitar sounds that include acoustic and electric lap steels, vintage acoustics, resonator guitars, both clean and effect drenched.
When listening you feel as if you’re in the room with the duo, the recording is so intimate. Trail-blazing in its simplicity, the CD showcases a musical endeavor that is deeply listenable and
multi-dimensional, ‘SKY’ is one for the permanent collection.
Track List:
- Bear in Shamanic Transformation [02:35]
- The Curve [02:51]
- Fence [02:14]
- Glistening Spirit [04:27]
- Rhymes With Buster [02:26]
- Sky [02:44]
- Sweeping Staircase [02:41]
- John Brown’s Body [02:48]
- Luv Jones [03:01]
- Not Too Fancy [03:00]
- Daikon Radish [02:26]
- Stain [03:47]
- Not Necessarily Stoned [05:23]
- Simone [02:41]
- Deadpan [02:13]
- White Horse Shoes [02:33]
Credits:
Guitarist Will Bernard
and
clarinetist/singer Beth Custer have forged a remarkable, musical partnership that spans decades and is reflected in their upcoming CD release SKY. Available to the public on Bernard’s Dreck-to-
Disk Records, September 5th, 2023.
(P) 2023 Will Bernard / Beth Custer
(C) 2023 Will Bernard / Beth Custer