A Solar Emperor
Dave McDonnell’s 5th World
↳ We’re pleased to debut “A Solar Emperor”, the second single from Dave McDonnell’s 5th World.
This track is about materializing on the surface of a planet and standing in the antechamber of a Solar Emperor, a being who controls the area around the event horizon of a black hole. You are there to supplicate before the emperor, asking for permission to use one the many wormholes spread along the event horizon so that your transport craft may fold space to continue its journey. The voice you hear is that of the emperor’s regent, instructing you in protocol for your request.
Mammals, out this June on Astrolabe Recordings, is a robust and groovy dialogue between the digital and the organic. Working with Chicago drummer Quin Kirchner (Wild Belle) McDonnell lays down driving, multi layered sequencer patterns and ambient textures, created with a text-based music coding software called RTcmix. Over these backing tracks Kirchner drums: sometimes repetitive and krautrock, then polyrhythmic and afro-beat inspired, and again with moments of full-on kinetic rock abandon.
Once these excursions were edited into song structures, the resulting pieces were finished off with haunting vocal harmonies from Emma-Louise Yohanan (Icy Demons) and bass work from Derek Almstead (Of Montreal). McDonnell adds his own vocals, along with low, monk like, contra-alto clarinet drones and pulses, heavily processed saxophone and ripping analogue synth leads. The result is a music that owes as much stylistically to the work of electronic pioneer Jon Hassell, as it does to Aphex Twin and Holly Herndon.
McDonnell’s recording career began in the late 1990s as a member of the free ranging out/rock outfit bablicon, (in which he was known as “the diminisher”) alongside Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel) and Griffin Rodriguez (Icy Demons). While working with bablicon in Athens, Georgia, McDonnell began his association with The Elephant 6 collective, leading to touring and features on recordings with members of The Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel and Of Montreal. David released a solo album, Imaginary Volcano, as the diminisher way back in 2006 on Unsound Records. He was a member of Icy Demons, and fronted the electro-synth-rock trio Michael Columbia, both of whom have performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival. While living in Cincinnati, McDonnell integrated himself into its emerging indie-scene and collaborated with top-tier working players, including drummer Josiah Wolf, appearing with his band Why? on their album Moh Lhean, on Joyful Noise.
Now based in Philadelphia, McDonnell is a veteran of Chicago’s thriving rock and jazz underground. He is best known there as a founding member of the now legendary group Herculaneum, a critically acclaimed working unit with a five album discography. His writing for the group has been performed at the New York Winter Jazz Fest and featured on NPR’s All Things Considered.
More recently, David’s work combining afro-beat with jazz and his electronic compositions has found an outlet with Dave McDonnell Group. These recordings feature a heavy cast of supporting musicians from Chicago and New York and can be found on labels such as Delmark records.
Mammals will be released on June 1st via digital and streaming, in addition to a limited run of 175-gram vinyl with a full color gatefold jacket. Records are available directly through Astrolabe Recordings and Bandcamp.