July 2023 Spotlight On guest Brandon Seabrook, the genre-melding guitarist and banjoist, is back with his new solo album, Object of Unknown Function, out October 18 on Pyroclastic Records. The collection stitches together an array of instruments and techniques into a thrilling, uncategorizable whole.

Ten years after his last solo outing, Sylphid Vitalizers, Seabrook has emerged as a fearless experimenter. The new album layers vintage banjos, electric and 12-string guitars, and cassette recordings into a complex sound. It's a far cry from a typical solo guitar album.

Seabrook's approach to recording captures the physicality of his performances. By attaching contact mics to his body and instruments, he infuses the music with a visceral, flesh-and-blood energy usually lost in the studio.

Two recent additions to Seabrook's arsenal play starring roles in the project: a 1920 Schmick guitar banjo and a 1998 Jerry Jones 12-string electric guitar. These join Seabrook's trusty 1925 Bacon & Day tenor banjo and 1989 Fender Telecaster, along with found sounds from a Tascam four-track cassette recorder.

The title track is an overture, introducing the album's key elements. It opens with an insistent guitar banjo riff, punctuated by noise from the four-track. Gong-like percussion suggests Gamelan influences before a chorus of bowed tenor banjos joins the fray, culminating in a near-apocalyptic crescendo.

"Melodic Incidents for an Irrational World" lives up to its name, massing four 12-strings and nine tenor banjos. An onslaught. In contrast, tracks like "Unbalanced Love Portfolio" and "Phenomenal Doggerel" strip things back to Seabrook alone with the guitar banjo, showcasing his intricate technique.

The 12-string guitar takes center stage on the warped groove of "Gawk Fodder" and the relentless "Some Recanted Evening." "Perverted by Perseverance" pairs Seabrook's Telecaster with tape recordings for a more abrasive edge. The album closes with "The Snow Falling, Failing," an atmospheric piece featuring a horde of tenor banjos.

Object of Unknown Function is dedicated to Seabrook's late father and uncle, adding a layer of personal significance to the experimental sounds, humanizing the monster.

Seabrook's tour in support of the album kicks off on October 10 in Rock Island, IL, and includes stops in Milwaukee, Chicago, Minneapolis, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and more. The album is available on October 18.

Brandon Seabrook’s magic clusterf**k of merciless banjo torture

Experimental jazz guitarist and banjoist Brandon Seabrook talks about the release of his new album, brutalovechamp, on Pyroclastic Records, and how it represents a vulnerable shift in his music.

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