Track of the Day: Steve Gunn “New Moon” (2018)

Just last week I was saying to one of the guys at my local record store that it’d been a while since Steve Gunn had released anything. The very next day, we get an album announcement and an opening taste of what’s to come with new single “New Moon”. 

For the past eleven years the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter has entranced listeners with his immersive and psychedelic sonic landscapes both on his records, and during his live shows. Along with releasing his own acclaimed solo records, Gunn has also been busy collaborating with a host of diverse artists, including Kurt Vile (Gunn was once a guitarist in the Violators) and Michael Chapman (Gunn produced Chapman’s 2017 release 50). The Unseen in Between, set for release in January, will be Gunn’s fourth record, and sees his songwriting take an even greater introspective turn, with the new record coming two years after the death of his father.

“New Moon”, the album’s opener, is a beautiful, albeit sombre, track that is reminiscent of Astral Weeks-era Van Morrison and Nick Drake. With it’s upright bass, and sparse tremolo guitar, “New Moon” is certainly not short on atmosphere. It’s ethereal, meditative and so easy to get lost in. A great indication of what’s to come from the new album; so far it doesn’t sound like a radical departure from what we’ve come to expect from Gunn, but there’s a lot to love here.

“New Moon” is available now. The Unseen In Between will be released January 18th through Matador Records. You can preorder the record HERE. You can find Steve Gunn on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Header Image: Clay Benskin

Simon Clark

Books Editor. An admirer of songs and reader of books. Simon has a PhD in English and Comparative Literature. All errant apostrophes are his own.