by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
We know and love Amar Lal from his time spent as the guitarist of Brooklyn DIY legends Big Ups. For nearly a decade he made thoughtful post-hardcore music where the guitars were always pushing beyond standard riffs to see just how creative he could get with visceral slides of distortion and effect driven experimentation. Following the band’s hiatus and Lal’s move from Brooklyn to Oakland, he’s set to release his debut solo album, Gardening, on September 27th via Never Content (Dustin Wong, Mutual Benefit, Cuddle Formation). After years of noisy output, Gardening, much like the album’s title, is a calming effort, an ambient record built on a backlog of tranquil ideas, field recordings, and gorgeous textural synths.
Like watching a time-lapse of grass growing or ants working, the record’s opening track “Privilege” is a metamorphosis, the start of something new and cyclical in its awakening. It’s a warm fog rolling in as the ocean ebbs and flows at the shore. It’s getting lost among the tallest of trees with no concept of time or place. However you like to imagine it, Amar Lal’s music feels like a de-stresser, an escape from the grind of city life and working jobs we hate. It’s a peaceful mediation of beauty trickling in from the floor boards, and it’s only the start of his stunning collection.