Pedal steel player Barry Walker Jr. is well known for his collaborative work with fellow Thrill Jockeys Marisa Anderson and Rose City Band, plus Mouth Painter and North Americans, but for Paleo Sol, a quite joyous release, he has teamed up with Animal Surrender! drummer Rob Smith and Mouth Painter bassist Jason Willmon to create an airy soundscape of shimmering patterns and melodic lines, punctuated by light fingerpicked guitar, considered percussion and wonderfully rich bass.
Although there are melodies to be found here, the focus is more on space and textures, with inquisitive playing seeking out the contours of the patterns laid down, while retaining a loosely structured framework. The result is music that is meditative and calming in places, but quite buoyant in others. Leaving Lower Big Basin is an example of the latter, with a firmer drum beat working with forthright pedal steel and deep bass to bring excitement to the trip.
Elsewhere, Under Leaf Hill is a slower, more pensive piece, with a distant, loose drum part seemingly isolated from an upfront, spare bassline that propels a sense of melancholy surrounding the music. A short tune at under three minutes, this one feels like a serious short story with hidden depths.
Just as gorgeous but less concerned is Perdiot, Call Me, another tune showcasing the power of a discerning bass and drum duo, this time with a bit more flexing and supporting a broader, more muscular pedal steel part. It’s also worth noting here the quality of production (by the band) and mastering by Amy Dragon at Telegraph, which is impeccable throughout, with the balance on each track adjusted ever so slightly depending on the mood of the piece.
Which brings us to the key song Sentient Lithosphere, a plus twelve-minute number built on space, a softly klaxon-like pedal steel loop, and super-delicately handled percussion. There is an improvised, experimental quality to both bass and drums on this one, and the restraint of all three players is fantastic, with the drama building infinitesimally as the generous run time advances. I could have listened to it all day.
Thrill Jockey has established a strong track record with collaborative projects—Black Duck and more eaze & claire rousay both spring to mind—and Paleo Sol deserves mention alongside them. Walker, Smith and Willmon have created an album that works equally well as background meditation or as the subject of closer scrutiny. Its confidence radiates quietly, never demanding attention but rewarding those who give it. This is music that understands the power of understatement, the beauty that can be found in restraint, and the expressive potential use of space.
Confident, inviting, and impeccably produced, this is collaborative instrumental music at its finest.
Paleo Sol (January 3oth, 2026) Thrill Jockey