The beauty of being a session player, apparently, is having friends in high places, all over the place. Such is the case with trumpeter and pianist Cory Gray, who—with a rotating cast of stellar collaborators—records as Carcrashlander (read more here). This particular track, which heads off his recent (and first) solo effort, is a prime example.

The credits for Carcrashlander read like a veritable PDX folk all-stars list: Dave Depper (bass); Shelley Short, Laura Gibson (backing vocals); Adam Selzer and Nate Ashley (guitar); Brian Wright (drums); and Amanda Lawrence on viola and violin. If those names bring Type Foundry studios to mind, there’s good reason: Gray’s played on many a song recorded there, as have most of those listed above, and Selzer runs the space.

The reason all these connections matter needs no more explanation than a single listen to “Gold Sunset.” Two of the song’s most striking elements—Selzer’s fuzzed-out guitar and Short’s twang-tinged, vaguely Dolly vocals—appear thanks to Gray’s work in the studio and on tour. But, even amidst all that familial talent, Gray’s piano and trumpet shine most brightly—creating a perfectly spooking tapestry for Selzer and Short to tear apart in their own, affecting ways.

About two minutes into “Gold Sunset,” the song breaks and allows for Gray’s slightly whiny, sepia-toned trumpet to set the mood. Selzer then steps in and electrifies the vintage-sounding track with very Norfolk & Western-y guitar. The verse that culminates with Gray and Short pairing up on the refrain: “This isn’t a coma/ You’re wide awake,” before a slow-building guitar- and piano-fueled noise-freakout takes hold. Much like it’s namesake: beautiful.

Download audio file (goldsunset.mp3)

Links:
CarcrashSpace
Parks and Records

Carcrashlander celebrates the release of Carcrashlander (available at parksandrecords.com) Saturday, Jan. 12, with Graves and Lake at Mississippi Studios. 10 pm. $7 advance, $8 day of show. 21+. Photo: taken from Carcrashlander’s MySpace.