Extra Stars is Gregory Uhlmann’s solo debut on International Anthem. It’s a deep and gorgeous expansion of the LA-based multi-instrumentalist producer / composer’s rhythmic ambient side, as nascently explored in his much-lauded duo with Meg Duffy, his trio work with Josh Johnson and Sam Wilkes, and in the gentler moments of SML (the improvising trance-jazz unit of which he is a member).
A radiant sidereal serenade, the album’s fourteen miniature infinities swirl serendipitous synthesis and measured, melody-rich song into a panoramic menagerie of sound. For a record that seldom incorporates percussion instrumentals, the music is distinctly rhythm-forward, while Uhlmann also leans heavily into swaths of pastoral beauty. Extra care was clearly poured into the kind of harmonic depth that’s often missing from vibe-only “ambient” music, making for a delightfully refreshing take on the electronic, processing-heavy quiet sound.
A1. Pocket Snail
A2. View Above
A3. Lucia (feat. Alabaster DePlume)
A4. Like Tea
A5. Days
A6. Worms Eye
B1. Burnt Toast
B2. Dottie
B3. Bristlecone
B4. Voice Exchange
B5. View Below
B6. Back Scratch
B7. Imprint
B8. Sugar Water
