Jeff Tobias
‍Recurring Dream

SOT001 - LP/Digital - Edition of 300 - 2022
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Over the past twenty years, Jeff Tobias has been a constant collaborator; most recently, in bands like Sunwatchers, Modern Nature, and Thee Reps. This is in addition to his work as a sideman with artists including Brigid Dawson, David First, and Dan Friel, among others. This work has been borne out in contributions to nearly ninety physically released recordings, as well as frequent tours across North America and Europe.

It’s due in large part to these crucial experiences in learning from others over the course of nearly two decades of music-making that Tobias is now able to present Recurring Dream, his debut full length as a solo artist.

While Tobias’ previously released limited cassettes featured formal composition (Some, Soap Library, 2016) and free improvisation (Completely Phantom, Baked Tapes, 2018), RecurringDream is a pop record with various non-pop genes spliced into its arrangements: minimalism, funk, math rock, post-punk, prog. It’s also the most accessible and personal music he’s ever made.

‍Recurring Dream became his way to use his experience as a multi-instrumentalist to create something that was totally of his own creative hand. On these ten songs, he played the majority of the instruments (totaling over a dozen different string, reed, and keyboard parts), and stepped up to the mic to sing lyrics that are entirely both personal and political. The lyrics explore themes that paint a truthful image of life in the United States at the end of the 2010s: fear and paranoia; capitalism and fascism; memory and the self; suicidal ideation and sexual identity.

On Recurring Dream, Tobias was aided on the majority of the material by Nick Podgurski (Feast of the Epiphany, GRID, Extra Life) on drum kit and Cory Bracken (American Football, Real Adult) on vibraphone and percussion. Where an additional voice was warranted, or in the instance that an instrument outside his wheelhouse was called for, he drew from a rich pool of talented friends, including Amirtha Kidambi (Elder Ones), Fatherdude (Brasstracks), Max Katz (USA is a Monster), Jordan McLean (Antibalas), and others. The album was mixed by Jonathan Schenke (Parquet Courts, Liars, Snail Mail) and mastered by Joel Hatstat (Bomb the Music Industry!, Maserati, Bambara).
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Recurring Dream was made available on LP and digitally via Strategy of Tension on January 7th 2022.
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