Barry Walker Jr. – “Leaving Lower Big Basin”

It’s a big year for RSTB fave Barry Walker Jr. Following a record with his newly formed Barry Walker Unit, featuring fellow members of Rose City Band, and a tour with RCB that hit both coasts and Woodsist, the pedal steel slinger has a new solo album on the way as well. The label lets us in with three new tastes of the upcoming Paleo Soul, showcasing Walker’s slow simmering steel. Minus his record with the quartet this year, this is the first new work under Walker’s name since 2020’s Shoulda Zoom, one of the last records from the dearly departed Holy Mountain Records (RIP John). Midpoint highlight “Leaving Lower Big Basin” finds Walker not only on the pedals, but also picking an acoustic accompaniment, etching a wide open vista that’s comfortable alongside any in the cosmic country canon. The new record is out January 30th from Thrill Jockey.

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