Path To The Gallows was recorded in Beeston, UK and Durban, South Africa straight to cassette and engineered by the wizard Rob V. It’s Duncan’s 9th “proper” album (but could also be his 12th or 6th depending how you count them).

Leaning into the lo-fi world, Gallows is a great representation of Duncan’s expertise in playing, composition, variety, and open mindedness. The LP begins with the epic A Moon Possessed Corpse, which starts with the classic handheld cassette handling racket, setting up the tone of the release, before sliding right into Duncan’s frenetic fingering and pull-offs, like he’s desperately trying to document something before heading off on a one-way trip, all while his dog moans in the background, knowing what’s in store.

In much the same way countless people have captured themselves on cassette, Duncan documents his mindset on to tape, with tracks like Talking and Tuning, setting the recording in a particular time and place, while he tunes and warms up, getting ready for the rising waters that are coming next.

Flood Warning sees him picking up the banjo, staying in the American Primitive world, before heading into a more classical guitar jaunt with the aptly titled Allegro Op. 50, No. 13. With Leaving Beeston Blues, Duncan gets back to the slower paced primitive guitar work, with some swelling background keyboard work. Thistle On the South Coast is a short ditty on flute, with feelings and imagery of coastlines, either here or there. Waltz No. 1 returns to the more classical realm, before eventually settling back into the raag stylings of Weaver’s Nest, which ends with over a minute of the sounds of insects, a wind chime, and the return of the dog, letting the listen catch their breath before turning the record over to start it all over again.

WRITTEN, RECORDED AND PERFORMED BY DUNCAN PARK

EXCEPT FOR:
Track 4: composed by Mauro Giuliani arr. Duncan Park
Track 7: composed by Bartolomé Calatayud arr. Duncan Park

Steel and nylon string guitars, banjo, melodica, penny whistle, tape player, chimes by Duncan Park

AND FEATURING:
Track 1: disgruntled dog noises by Sage (Michelle’s sweet pup)
Track 5: (guitars + pedals) by freq. magnet
Track 8: field recordings by Rob Vaughn

Recorded in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, UK on 31 December 2022 and in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa on 04 January 2023

Sonick sculpting by Thee West Coast Mystic Rob V. at The Sound-O-Mat

Art and design by Cam Löfstrand

Duncan Park

Releases

Path To The Gallows