This rather beautiful, unhurried recording is the work of guitarist and composer Chaz Prymek (aka Lake Mary) and musician and intermedia artist Matthew Sage, who also works with Chaz on their Fuubutsushi project with Patrick Shiroishi and Chris Jussell. Although the jazz stylings of Fuutbutsushi are absent here, the lightness of touch and delicacy of playing is present across the five songs.
Shelter began life back in 2022, as both Chaz and Matthew settled back into the rural mountainous landscapes of Utah and Colorado, where each resides. The skeletons of these songs are the live improvisations played by Chaz and Matthew in the pole barn studio Matthew set up, with Chaz on electric guitar and Matthew on piano. Over time, the duo very delicately adorned the songs with sparse overdubs to create texture and broaden the sound.
There is such a considered approach to the music on this album; the accompanying clarinet on Red Healer comes in like a gentle breeze across the mountain, with subtle electronics and distant slide guitar adding to a calming effect with just a hint of knottiness in places from some of the guitar and piano notes.
The outdoors permeates this album too; the intro to Shelter From has natural birdsong mixing with some unidentified outdoor sounds, before the electric guitar and piano join in a spacious dance. The continuing additions in the sometimes long gaps between notes bring a groundedness to this music that could have so easily been lost with too much fiddling and overdubbing. It’s another example of the discerning nature of these two musicians and of what is the overriding message behind this album.
These subtle sounds can be found across the set; Wonder Comes Aroaring sees synths and accordion gently nestle in with the two main instruments, but behind that, when all is quiet, is the sound of the environment around the music, even an occasional knock or brush. The effect is important to the overall character, which is as much about the importance of place to Chaz and Matthew as it is about anything being played.
This is an album that requires multiple, deep listens to fully discover its spirit and personality. Each spin will reward with a newly discovered detail, even if it’s a gentle wooden scuff or a natural sound creeping in. The music is intricate and spacious, very elegantly performed and balanced. It is the sound of musicians who love expression through sound and who love the environment they call home. Bask in its delicate beauty.
Shelter (April 10th, 2026) AKP Recordings
Pre-Order: https://prymekandsage.bandcamp.com/album/shelter