Matt Gold - Imagined Sky (2020)

'Imagined Sky' is the first solo record from Chicago-based guitarist and songwriter Matt Gold. Gold's open, creative approach to music making has flourished in his adopted home - "I value the cross-pollination and intermingling of the scenes; it's a beautifully collaborative city" - and his talents have been called upon by a diversity of boundary-crossing artists such as Makaya McCraven, Greg Ward, Sara Serpa, and Jamila Woods.

Melody is at the center of Gold's music, whether he's edging towards post-rock power-trio antics with electric bassist Bryan Doherty and drummer Jeremy Cunningham, or exploring an abstracted Americana with acoustic guitar and whispering electronic textures. Imagined Sky also uses these elements to frame the direct, folk-tinged vocals of collaborators Sara Serpa and Macie Stewart, as well as Gold himself. "I've tried to stitch together the more improvisatory electric trio material with something more song-focused and concise, balancing these energies."

'Imagined Sky' finds Gold exploring the connections between the external and internal - the vast landscapes that erode and change, and one's inner world that evolves and adapts. Richly melodic, atmospheric yet accessible, unconstrained by genre but sure of its own identity, 'Imagined Sky' feels less like a debut and more like a culmination - an arrival point for an artist who has already quietly woven his voice into the fabric of Chicago's many musical communities.

Available as high quality, 6 panel digipak CD with a velvety soft-touch laminate finish, or a high quality, 180 gram, 12" LP - comes with a download code containing the digital album in multiple formats.

Press:

"Imagined Sky" has a warm, feel-good atmosphere to it. It's accessible, yet healthily unconstrained by genre and sure of its own identity, feeling less like a debut and more like a culmination of all the good things Matt Gold has taken on board along his journey to reach this point. With a refreshing vitality, I'd highly recommend it. - **** UK Vibe

Matt Gold - electric and acoustic guitars, voice (5), analog synthesizer (2, 8), wurlitzer electric piano (2, 7), mellotron (5)
Bryan Doherty - electric bass
Jeremy Cunningham - drums
Macie Stewart - voice (2)
Sara Serpa - voice (8)
Dan Pierson - analog synthesizer (1, 3)
Myra Hinrichs - violin (5)
Matt Ulery - double bass (5)