Daydream Observatory: Opaque Bright Orange 12" Vinyl LP by Matt Evans

Tracklisting:

1. For Oyster
2. Wine Shop Discount RPG
3. Sword of the Sun (feat. Chris Ryan Williams)
4. Stone Eater
5. Gaia (feat. Domenica Fossati)
6. Dirt Fish (feat. Chris Ryan Williams)
7. Analemma
8. Dreamreader (feat. Nyokabi Kariũki)
9. A Nautiloid Spiral Shell (Marta Tiesenga)
10. In Parched Light

Following in the musical language of New Topographics (2020) and Soft Science (2022), Daydream Observatory points its lens towards self-examination and charts a course through a constellation of interior worlds. Sparked by a misunderstanding of the term ‘'psychogeography,” the album inhabits landscapes of consciousness, personal reflections, and skittering emotions through a collection of ten synth-saturated, drum-driven, “zone poems.”

The album vacillates from meditative to cacophonous, making up a kind of character alignment chart of things light, dark, wholesome, and misanthropic. The sound orbits the phantasmal chill-complexity of previous records while including and responding to several distinguished guests including Chris Ryan Williams (trumpet), Domenica Fossati (flute), Marta Tiesenga (saxophone), and Nyokabi Kariũki (kalimba). Their performances have been recorded, responded to, cut up, and re-sequenced meticulously to construct a kind of “soundscape bonsai” with a narrative logic that is simultaneously cathartic and lighthearted.

Inspired by Italo Calvino’s “Mr. Palomar”, Mark Bradford’s colorfully tattered collages, and maximalist referential streetwear brand “BootBoyz.Biz”, Daydream Observatory assembles a wide array of sonic worlds to present a detailed perspective on the everyday balancing of tragedy and comedy.

All songs by Matt Evans
Jennae Santos: voice, water bottle & voice memo (1)
Chris Ryan Williams: trumpet & electronics (3, 4, 6)
Domenica Fossati: flute (4, 5)
Lia Ohyang Rusli: noise & feedback (4, 6)
Nyokabi Kariũki: kalimba (8)
Marta Tiesenga: tenor saxophone (9)
Anthony Vine: guitar (10)

Drums and percussion recorded by Matt Evans at Squibb Studios in January and July 2024.

Moog Grandmother, Casio CZ5000, Juno 60, Korg Minilogue, Roland SP404, a glass of seltzer, a clam shell filled with sand, and featured guests recorded by Matt Evans at Worm World Studios 2024/25

Analemma drums recorded at Brah Studios 2021, and some synths recorded on Coles St. way back in 2017

Jennae Santos, voice memo recorded at Huckleberry Point, Hudson Valley, NY
Lia Rusli, noise & feedback recorded at home
Marta Tiesenga, tenor saxophone recorded at home

Edited and Mixed by Matt Evans at Worm World Studios 2024/25
Mastered by Stephan Mathieu
Artwork, Layout, and Design by Ana Vasquez

Thanks to my parents, Jennae, and everyone I’ve had the pleasure of hanging with these last few years :)

AKP048