Album by Donald Beaman

10 tracks | 32:47 run time

Releases 06/14/24

Available on: Vinyl LP, CD, Cassette, Digital, Streaming

Vinyl, CD, Cassette releases 09/20/24

UK/EU Release Date 10/25/24

Fog On Mirror Glass introduces a new aesthetic amongst Donald Beaman albums. After four albums of varied full-band arrangements, this album emerged as an idea to present solo performances in conversation with full-band work. The bulk of the songs were recorded in the same place they were written: Beaman’s living room. Long time bandmate and producer Kirt Lind set up a makeshift studio at Beaman’s house to record the guitar parts in the same room where they were written, using the same guitars on which they were first played.

The natural reverb of Beaman’s living room became the first sonic identity of the album. From those initial guitar tracks, very spare additional guitars, keyboards, accordion, and backing vocals have been added. A few additional songs were tracked live with drummer Michael Nalin and bassist Kirt Lind. Those songs serve as a bridge, but the core identity of the album is to present the songs of Beaman as a songwriter, unadorned and in their original form.

Unfurling with a measured pace, the resulting album combines elegiac lyrics with elemental arrangements played with an almost jazz-like reverential expressiveness, calling to mind the works of Cass McCombs, Will Oldham, and Jake Xerxes Fussell. Album opener “Glass Bottom Boat” sets the tone for the album with just Beaman and his guitar – written during the final months of a decade-long stay in New York City, the song was finished upon his arrival back in California. Meanwhile the title track, long a staple in live sets, lands near the middle of the album to recalibrate the mood, featuring the ghostly guitar work of longtime collaborator Ken Lovgren. “Old Universe” lifts things up a bit, propelled by the brushwork of drummer Michael Nalin and the jaunty bass playing of Kirt Lind. Finally, the album ends much the way it began, with Beaman and his guitar on album closer “Bamboo”.

Fog On Mirror Glass is set for release on Oakland, CA based Royal Oakie Records on June 14th 2024. The US/North American physical release will follow on September 20th 2024, with the UK/EU release set for October 25th 2024.