Clash Valian, a musical project created by singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Greg Merrell, has just come to my attention through their ambitious experimental rock album Degrees of Freedom.
By Graeme Smith
Degrees of Freedom is an album that brings together ethereal and atmospheric compositions and edgy rock over an incredible 21 tracks. Don’t let its unconventional length put you off. Once you’re plugged in, you’ll be lost in the sound, arriving at its surprise twist conclusion before you know it.
Amazingly, over twenty different instruments feature on the album, with Greg doing most of the heavy lifting. He wrote and recorded it all himself, based out of his converted garage studio. The result is that Degrees of Freedom has a very personal feel to it, with Greg fully expressing himself across its varied and interesting compositions.
Topics such as Norse myth, space, resilience and heartache are all explored through the album’s poetic lyrics, combining the fantastical with the very human. Tracks like the cosmic, psychedelic Moonlander, and the jazz-infused Brokkr are cases in point. Dragon’s Backbone, too, is a vibrant, driving wonder, with male and female harmonies singing in both English and Mandarin.
Other highlights include lofty, meandering album opener Cyrus, the despairing, maximalist Glamwow, the juddering, bluesy Knitting with Cat Hair, the soaring, conflicted Warplane, the unhinged Heady, and the crooning, sardonic 607 Custom House. That’s to name a few. Truly, each track brings something to the expansive collection.
The ambition, effort, heart and soul that has gone into Clash Valian’s Degrees of Freedom is frankly breath-taking. I’ve heard very little else like it, and I’m so glad to have discovered Greg’s music. The scale of his album, as well as its intelligence and emotional articulation, puts it a cut above the pack.
If you happen to find yourself in Seattle, USA on 7 April, then you can catch the album’s release party there at the Tractor Tavern.
You can give Degrees of Freedom a listen below.