“An Aversion To Fervor” is the latest preview from Chicago-based progressive Warr guitarist Jason Blake (Aziola Cry), preceding the release of his “Slightly Different Paths” album, and you can listen to the track now below.
Jason Blake used his semi-hollow Artisan Warr guitar on these recordings to give them an “acoustic” sound. The ten-song “Radiant Dusk” and its six-song companion “Slightly Different Paths” – which sees him joined by drummer Amery Schmeisser – were recorded, mixed, and mastered in Chicago at Gravel Road Recording by Schmeisser. Longtime collaborator Hajo Mueller (Steven Wilson, Mariusz Duda) completed the beautiful artwork for both releases, which are now being released as a 2xCD package.
“‘An Aversion to Fervor’ is a great example of what this album is about and my current thinking with regard to the music that I write away from my band, Aziola Cry” reveals Jason. “It has a heavy quality to it while being just clean Warr guitar and drums. As I was in the studio recording “Radiant Dusk”, I kept experimenting with different ideas around what the music could become. The addition of the drums came much later as a way of bridging the gap between my previous album, “Subsequent Ruins”, which featured Marco Minnemann on drums, and “Radiant Dusk”.”
Through both his playing in progressive/instrumental trio Aziola Cry and his own solo work, Jason Blake has been establishing himself as one of the most distinguished technicians on the Warr guitar; a unique twelve-string instrument incorporating the range of a guitar and bass that is played by tapping the strings in a touch-style technique.
Through a rapidly prolific succession of varied records in recent years, Blake been building an impressive resume as a solo artist, pushing the boundaries of the Warr while incorporating elements of progressive rock, ambient, classical, and more.
“Radiant Dusk” is out now digitally, and “Slightly Different Paths” will be released November 17th alongside the 2xCD containing both albums.
Digital preorders for “Slightly Different Paths”, and preorders for the “Radiant Dusk”/“Slightly Different Paths” 2xCD at Bandcamp HERE.
