Article Contributed by Calabro Music Media
Published on 2026-07-17
Slow Accordion, featuring incandescent guitarist Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers; Matt Glassmeyer, known for his work with Billy Martin and Lambchop, on his own strange Wurlitzer and percussion; far-out, hard-grooving bass player Ted Pecchio of Col. Bruce Hampton and Doyle Bramhall II; and magically versatile drummer Mark Raudabaugh of Sierra Hull and Donna the Buffalo, has released its self-titled debut album via RPF Records/Royal Potato Family.
The four boundlessly inspired, Nashville-based musicians and longtime friends had no preconceived ideas or concepts beyond coming together to conjure music out of thin air, purely in the present moment. The seven-track collection was completely improvised and recorded analog, right down to the tape running out halfway through the closing track.
“An intoxicating, purely improvised conversation between four seasoned players operating on pure instinct. Recorded live in a circle straight to a four-track reel-to-reel, the seven-track album captures a raw, breathing spontaneity that feels like a rare luxury in today’s polished musical landscape.” — No Depression
Having only played a handful of shows up to the point of recording at Glassmeyer’s home studio in Nashville, Slow Accordion captured its debut album over three sessions, with the four musicians in a circle, tracking analog without overdubs to four-track reel-to-reel tape.
Each of its seven tracks pits energy and tone against deference and collectivism. Solos give way to space. Spontaneous harmonies are underpinned by a free-flowing pulse. Sonic experimentalism resolves in emotional intention.
The results range from the avant-country funk of “‘71” to the blissful, sunrise-over-the-horizon daydream of “Castle.” On “Mettle,” the quartet is angular and mercurial, while “Easy Rock” hits like downtown New York City holding court at a Tennessee honky-tonk.
“We’ve all experienced how most modern music is meticulously recorded, so we pulled that drawer out, dumped it, and stomped on it. We want people to hear the spirit of the music moving us, exposing us, and being improvised in real time,” says Glassmeyer.
“Everything was recorded analog to an old tape machine with minimal mics—the four of us in a circle, playing in the moment, pushing and pulling, and allowing the music to take us where it will.”
Slow Accordion has three shows announced, with additional dates expected shortly.
TOUR DATES
August 16 — Nashville, TN — Vinyl Tap
October 21 — Decatur, GA — Eddie’s Attic — Two shows
November 3 — Asheville, NC — Ayurprana Listening Room
Slow Accordion is out now on limited-edition, 180-gram vinyl and digital formats.
