Six-string master Shane Parish has been a frequent presence in recent years, known for his diverse acoustic ventures—such as his interpretations of Autechre and Aphex Twin songs—and his electric pursuits, including the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet. Following a health scare during his appearance at Philadelphia’s Making Time ∞ festival last month, Parish has returned with a surprise new album, Dental Work, released today.
Parish provided context for the sudden release:
Honestly, I had not planned to make another album this year. But when I was in Philadelphia to play Making Time ♾️ in mid-September, the left side of my face rapidly swelled up like a balloon during lunch. I rushed to urgent care, and luckily made it back to the festival grounds at Fort Mifflin in time for my set. It was a TRANSCENDENT concert! When I got home, however, I needed more than $5,000 in dental work. Faced with the expense, I fired up my home studio intending to make something quickly that I could release to help offset the cost. Instead, over the course of a few days, a cohesive little album emerged.
Dental Work showcases Parish on electric guitar, though it departs from the overdriven intensity often associated with his collaborations with Orcutt. Utilizing a loop pedal, he constructs heavily percussive, cyclical instrumentals that draw parallels to his work in the duo Ahleuchatistas and his 2022 solo effort, Liverpool. A standout track, “Mage’s Boogie,” highlights his technical prowess, featuring volume-knob manipulations that create eerie, bird-like calls over a palm-muted pulse.
“In some ways, it feels like a low-key follow-up to Autechre Guitar, and I think people who discovered me through that album will find a familiar sensibility here,” Parish notes. Listeners can explore the new release and support the artist directly via his Bandcamp page.
