Michael Vallera – The Other World
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Released in an edition of 300 CDs by Torn Light Records
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The Other World was recorded in the spring of 2023 by Greg Norman at his home studio in Chicago. Each track was done in a single take without editing or manipulation. The recordings were made using a Stratocaster running into a minimal effects chain, which was then fed into a small solid state amplifier and captured by a pair of stereo microphones. I was interested in a sound palette that was very blanketed and gray, which led me to cut the high end tone of the guitar pre-amplifier, letting the only upper-frequency material be supplied by the room itself. When I later returned to the recordings, there was a quality that felt immediate and special to what had been documented. Listening to the tracks reminded me of looking at a series of charcoal drawings. Each of the four pieces seemed to contain, within the limits of their sound, an environment that could extend beyond their quiet and simple nature. Ultimately, I hope this record offers the listener a space for contemplation, and that it can exist as a monochromatic expression of a deeply interior place.
-Michael Vallera, 2025