Walt McClements On A Painted Ocean

Stillness can imply either tranquility or stagnation. Walt McClements grappled with theseopposing forces in the years it took to realize On a Painted Ocean: a suite of searchingaccordion and pipe organ-led pieces that travel a steady course, swelling and expandingwith a tide of tender emotion. The composer and multi-instrumentalist takes the title of hissecond album from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous epic The Rime of the AncientMariner and its depiction of a boat that's stalled at sea_As idle as a painted ship/ Upon apainted ocean. It's an impression that mirrors both the process and the product of McClements'sWestern Vinyl release, from the gentle unfurling of a raw reed tone on opener "APainted Ship" to the gritty ebb and flow of effects-laden drone on "Washed Up," and theclosing flutter and signal interference that noisily builds toward triumphant euphoria on"Clattering."On a Painted Ocean emerges at a confluence of events and inspirations that have shiedand changed like the weather itself. Its initial sketches began with unexpected access to aPasadena church organ in 2022, before being set aside to prepare for a busy year as amember of Weyes Blood's live band. Months on the tour bus with limited instruments ledMcClements to explore recreating the sound of his processed accordion on the synthesizer,layering it with the organ pieces. As that cycle came to end, McClements was eager tofinish the record, but was unsure how to pick up the thread. Stuck in the doldrums ofcreative block, McClements took his traces of processed accordion and synthesizers,reversed pipe organ and melodica, reeds and pipes run through pedals and computers tohis former home of New Orleans for Carnival.Having lived in the Louisiana city for a decade before moving to Los Angeles, McClementsfound renewed inspiration from his community during one of its most ecstatic and meaningfultimes of year. Its ethic of art for community's sake and practices of care inspired himto take fellow musicia...