Trippers & Askers - Acorn (Sleepy Cat)

WHAT YOUR EARS SAY & THE COVER LOOKS LIKE

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WHAT WE SAY

Inspired by Octavia Butler's prescient 90's novel predicting today's climate & wealth inequality crisis', the new LP from Trippers & Askers for Sleepy Cat Records is a laid back alt-Americana & jazz laced psychedelic folk foray into humanity's dark side, the still burning candles of hope & the difficult choices facing us all sooner than we want to admit if we want to build a more equitable, sustainable future.

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WHAT THE RELEASE NOTES SAY

Inspired by the world building, Afrofuturist radicalism of the novel “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler, the latest Trippers & Askers LP “Acorn” blends spiritual jazz and traditional styles in ways that pose fundamental questions about the nature of “American” music. With cover art from acclaimed comic artist John Jennings - whose work includes multiple graphic novel adaptations of Butler’s work - this concept album ushers the listener through the narrative of the novel as it pertains to the very real political and emotional challenges of the present. 
Parable of the Sower was written in the 1990’s and set in 2020’s U.S. when society has collapsed for everyone but the super wealthy due to climate change, wealth inequality, religious fundamentalism, and corporate greed. The protagonist – a woman named Lauren Olamina – embodies a kind of radical hope that has nothing to do with denial. In fact, it’s a kind of hope that can only spring from the fact that she understands the severity of her and her community’s situation better than anyone else. It’s a hope that is anchored by a religion that she creates called Earthseed, a way of seeing the world that many contemporary black feminist activists and musicians such as adrienne maree brown, Toshi Reagon and so many others have taken up as a spiritual roadmap toward liberation from an increasingly unacceptable present. 
Side A of “Acorn” deals with the childhood of humanity on earth, with the discovery of Earthseed ushering us to the stars. Side B deals with a “sweet, sad and terrifying” adulthood that is oriented toward the creation of the first Earthseed community, “Acorn.” An album based on the second novel in the series, “Parable of the Talents”, is in process. 
Acorn was recorded primarily in Durham, North Carolina, and features some of the area’s finest including Andy Stack (Wye Oak, Joyero), Joseph O’Connell (Elephant Micah), Joe Westerlund (Califone, Megafaun), former Sun Ra member Ken Moshesh. Here are some words on the album from songwriter, friend and fellow traveler, Will Stratton. 
 CreditsPerformance: 
Jay Hammond | Voice, Guitars, Mandolin, Bass, Electronics 
Chessa Rich | Voice, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Flute 
Andrew Carlson | Voice, Bass 
Joe Westerlund | Drums, Percussion 
Ken Moshesh | Percussion 
Joseph Decosimo | Fiddle 
Bako Jaf | Saz 
Mike Grigoni | Pedal Steel 
Joseph O'Connell | Pump Organ 
Andy Stack | Saxophone, Organelle 

Production: 
All Songs by Jay Hammond 
Saz by Bako Jaf recorded in Pigneto, Rome 
Engineering @ Silkworm Sound in Durham, NC by Saman Khoujinian 
Engineering @ The Rubber Room in Chapel Hill, NC by Saman Khoujinian 
Engineering @ Arbor Ridge Studios in Chapel Hill, NC by Jeff Crawford 
Engineering and Initial Mixing @ Everywhere by Jay Hammond 
Final Mixes by Scott Hirsch @ Echo Magic Studios in Ojai, CA 
Distributed by Sleepy Cat Records 
Manufactured by Blue Sprocket in Harrisonburg, VA 
Package design by Gabe Anderson 
Original Cover Artwork by John Jennings 
Produced by Jay Hammond 
© simultaneities 2021​

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