Gregory Uhlmann (SML, Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes) has shared Burnt Toast, the second single from his forthcoming album Extra Stars, out March 6th via International Anthem. He has also released a performance video of the track, filmed by Mark Pallman at International Anthem Studios in Chicago.
Burnt Toast showcases Uhlmann’s distinctive ability to coax non-guitar sounds from his instrument while maintaining an unmistakably guitar-driven approach. The track moves through complementary and warring syncopations with quick, lively momentum, punctuated by synthetic glissandos and carefully placed stereo-image warbles. It’s a piece that demonstrates Uhlmann’s mastery of realtime tonal transformation, where the guitar becomes something else entirely without losing its essential character.
Following extensive collaborative work with Perfume Genius, Tasha, and Hand Habits, Uhlmann has quietly established himself as an essential voice in progressive instrumental music. Recent years have seen him release a remarkable string of albums: the ambient minimalism of Small Day, his celebrated duo record Doubles with Meg Duffy, Water Map with Dustin Wong, a trio recording with saxophonist Josh Johnson and bassist Sam Wilkes, and two genre-pushing albums as co-leader of SML (Small Medium Large in 2024 and How You Been in 2025), described in these pages as forging bright new pathways in American jazz.
Extra Stars synthesizes everything Uhlmann has learned across these projects. Though largely percussion-free, the album maintains a distinctly rhythm-forward approach while embracing pastoral beauty. The production reflects harmonic depth often missing from vibe-oriented ambient music, positioning the album somewhere between Cluster & Eno, Terry Riley’s Shri Camel, and Yo La Tengo’s There’s a Riot Going On. The album’s title was inspired by a trip to California’s Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, where the night sky’s starry expanse stretches beyond belief.
Uhlmann will perform in Brooklyn and Los Angeles this April, with a virtual Bandcamp listening party on March 6. On February 15th, Living Earth will host a stargazing and advance listening party at Angel’s Point in Elysian Park, Los Angeles.
LIVE DATES
4/16 – Zebulon (album release show) – Los Angeles, CA
4/22 – Public Records (album release show) – Brooklyn, NY
5/16 – The Thing in the Spring Festival – Keene, New Hampshire
Pre-Order Extra Stars: https://international-anthem.lnk.to/ExtraStars