The sixth solo LP from Mike Gordon, Flying Games is an album of constant and wildly hypnotic movement, each moment animated by unexpected sounds that morph and expand and spin off into their own strange orbits. To create such a mesmerizing body of work, the Vermont-based musician spent long months – including much of 2020’s lockdown – writing and recording in his makeshift Megaplum home studio, immersing himself in sonic experiments. As the songs became more fully formed, Gordon brought in contributions from his bandmates, drummer John Kimock, keyboardist Robert Walter, percussionist Craig Myers, and guitarist/pedal-steel player Scott Murawski, all of whom submitted parts from afar which were then woven into the initial tracks. The album was Produced by Gordon, recorded by longtime collaborator Jared Slomoff, and mixed by six-time Grammy-winning engineer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs) and reveals entirely new dimensions of the kaleidoscopic musicianship Gordon has displayed as Phish’s bassist for the last four decades, the result is a work of both extraordinary vision and daring execution.
In keeping with the eclectic sensibilities that informed past work like 2017’s pop-fueled OGOGO and 2020’s Noon (a collaborative album made with acoustic guitar luminary Leo Kottke), the new LP imbues elements of everything from disco and dancehall to psych-folk and funk into Gordon’s unfettered and expansive breed of rock music. Tracklist Below
The sixth solo LP from Mike Gordon, Flying Games is an album of constant and wildly hypnotic movement, each moment animated by unexpected sounds that morph and expand and spin off into their own strange orbits. To create such a mesmerizing body of work, the Vermont-based musician spent long months – including much of 2020’s lockdown – writing and recording in his makeshift Megaplum home studio, immersing himself in sonic experiments. As the songs became more fully formed, Gordon brought in contributions from his bandmates, drummer John Kimock, keyboardist Robert Walter, percussionist Craig Myers, and guitarist/pedal-steel player Scott Murawski, all of whom submitted parts from afar which were then woven into the initial tracks. The album was Produced by Gordon, recorded by longtime collaborator Jared Slomoff, and mixed by six-time Grammy-winning engineer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs) and reveals entirely new dimensions of the kaleidoscopic musicianship Gordon has displayed as Phish’s bassist for the last four decades, the result is a work of both extraordinary vision and daring execution.
In keeping with the eclectic sensibilities that informed past work like 2017’s pop-fueled OGOGO and 2020’s Noon (a collaborative album made with acoustic guitar luminary Leo Kottke), the new LP imbues elements of everything from disco and dancehall to psych-folk and funk into Gordon’s unfettered and expansive breed of rock music. Tracklist Below
Mike Gordon - Flying Games This album is so damn Fly! 555 Stars!
Zonker
May 22, 2023
Great stuff. Didn't realize Mike had albums like this. It's much more upbeat that Trey and Page.
Tim from Long Island
May 22, 2023
Fabulously flabbergasting and fun! Nn-suh nn-suh nn-suh. Star fives!
Fin
May 22, 2023
Awesome looking piece of vinyl. Good pressing. Sounds great. My copy was nice and flat. Only noticed a few ticks and pops between the last few songs. I've been anticipating this record forever, and I am not disappointed. I am ready to hear these new ones live!
Joe
May 22, 2023
Nonstop off the wall funky gumbo from MG. Definitely check out the lyrics as you listen; there's a lot to think about. Also, if you're debating between just listening on streaming or grabbing the LP; the bass and synthy sounds and the electronica DNA in the album are conveyed with greater depth in this format. Some albums really pop on LP, and this is one. Unlike some vinyl these days, Flying Games arrived super flat, in great shape, with a clean release from the pressing plant. So far I've listened on my B system: Onkyo 2-channel through some vintage Klipsch KG4's. Loved it. Sounds great.