MERIC LONG - Kablooey [lp] (Colored Vinyl, Download)

Sometimes, inspiration strikes from the least likely of places - for Meric Long, who makes up 1/2 of legendary Bay Area band The Dodos, it was his daughter's small pink drumset. It all began when I tried to see if I could make her drum set sound cool, says Long, who currently works as an in-house engineer at the iconic Tiny Telephone Studios in Oakland, CA. Once the drum set was mic'd up and dialed, Long began adding guitar and vocals without overthinking anything. The songs came together fast - it really just felt like a call back to playing guitar in my bedroom as a kid and just having fun. The result is Kablooey, Long's debut solo album released under his own name. The album's title is fitting, given Long's desire to tap into an element of fun and spontaneity when it came to creating - whatever felt right in the moment was what Long explored, whether it might blow up in his face or not! The album's opening track, Split Decision, illustrates this feeling perfectly, his daughter's drum set now providing the perfect backbone for the rambunctious and chaotic guitar work to follow. Aside from a few guest appearances from vocalist Maryam Qudus (SpaceMoth) and Forrest Day who contributed saxophone and piano, Long played every other instrument himself, sometimes recording deep into the night at Tiny Telephone after finishing a separate session. Kablooey is yet another meaningful snapshot into the mind of Meric Long, whose decades-spanning contributions to music have been a major influence to California's indie rock scene. Now as an established engineer, the album is a compelling look into his remarkable abilities as both a songwriter and a creator.

Vinyl release of Meric Long - Kablooey [lp] (Colored Vinyl, Download). Released through Polyvinyl Records and available on LP.