Rose Mountain Melody marks a departure from the musical project Jus Post Bellum led by Geoffrey Wilson, into a new iteration "Sun Moon Man". These songs mark some middle ground both stylistically and conceptually between the two projects. A movement from more traditionally rooted Folk/Americana based sound of JPB to a more nuanced reference to Early American work songs, 50's and 60's era Rhythm&Blues and soul, civil rights era culture and politics, seen through a modern sonic lens( i.e harmonies and reverb;).

This bunch of songs were written and recorded over the course of 4 days in July at an artists retreat called Almost-Although, held outside Phoenicia, NY, and led by Bethany Ides.

As you will notice, each song has listed after it's title, the setting in which it was recorded. They are also listed roughly in the order in which I wrote and recorded them. At the retreat I stayed in a very lovely, mostly plywood little cabin, and on my first night(tuesday) there was a spat of heavy rainfall. During this time I recorded the first few songs including the title track Rose Mountain Melody, which is basically an improvised melody/lyric sung over some fingerpicking. You will hear the sound of the rain in the the first few tracks.

My first full day(wednesday) I set up my recording equipment down by the Esopus Creek in a large open air, wooden pavilion set just off the water. I spent a couple days here writing and recording in turn, capturing the varying sound of the water, birds, and nature.

The afternoon of my third day(Thursday) I moved all my equipment up the steep hill into the woods behind the cabins of Rose Mount. Here I began by recording the very prominent sounds of birds and from there built a harmonic loop which became the opening for "Somebody to stay". That evening I discovered a small outhouse looking structure which turned out to be a small room housing the water heater tank. Much to my delight there was a light and room enough for a chair, guitar and Mic. The room was insulated and thus served very well for a vocal isolation space. However there was a noxious smell of mouse pee, lots of poops, and equipment running without ventilation. None the less I managed to work well into the night recording more vocals and percussion before succumbing to a throbbing head.

My last full day I took a break from the rigorous schedule and went out to breakfast at the Phoenicia Diner spent some time recording a co-retreaters poetry, buying groceries in town and swimming in the Esopus. After a very fun composition exercise I snuck away to my room for one last bout of inspiration as the sun was setting. I took an hour furiously scribbling down a rambling Dylanesque bunch of verses and then straightaway recorded "Deciever" and managed to get an acceptable take the 3rd time around.
I was really thrilled to have this one last burst of creative inspiration.

That evening after our kind host Bethany graced us with a feast on her deck I cajoled her and a few folks to sing another highly improvised rendition of "Every Man" to which I had written a few more verses in the preceding hours.

As I mentioned this collection of songs act as a transitional piece of work. Some of them will be shaped into new iterations for Oh Selma, and others likely will remain simply as a tribute to a special time and place.

Lastly, many many thanks to Bethany Ides for for her unbounded ambition in bringing to being Almost-Although which allowed me the time and space in body and mind to create this work. What a gift!

*also as a note: the price is set high because I don't want to sell the songs at the present moment, but Bandcamp must be led to believe there is some profit to be made;)