Experimental, avant garde, post-folk? This is a live performance of Uncle Woody Sullender in Germany last summer. These are droney, minimalistic yet full, looping trips. He exhibits some excellent musicianship with the banjo, ranging from tense staccato attacks to slower, more subtly gorgeous passages. He loops cool synth tones in the mix, and uses digital manipulation to achieve his “electronically augmented” sound. Percussion is subtly layered in as a texture (if it is there at all?). Because this is starkly banjo focused, some parts may be peaceful and warm, but much of this is anxious, tense music, and is not necessarily chill. This is minimalistic, busy, confrontational. All instrumental; no FCCs. Take a shot on any of them.

1. Looped tones drone behind warm banjo textures and riffing. Tense strumming and angry, angular banjo at around 8 minutes. Moves into a slower, chord sequence and back to tension at 15:00 with noisy drone and banjo attack. At -2:30, he repeatedly hits the same note on the banjo and the drone fades out and back in. (21:12)
2. Slow start. A definite ‘southern’ feel to the banjo playing. Banjo slows down and some semblance of a refrain is present. Very pretty passage in the middle here. No synthy/electronic drone on this track. Outro picks up; interesting. (9:05)
3. Quickly builds to a maelstrom of banjo with some digital manipulation, droney feedback comes in. Feedback fades out and banjo continues on a rhythmic assault. Finishes on a pretty sequence. (10:36)