Five Steps is an impressive lesson in the snowball effect. Though the Texan, Hayden Pedigo, has rarely left his panhandle home of Amarillo and is barely of drinking age, his many influences are internationally renowned, some with careers spanning longer than Pedigo’s been alive--yet with his well of talent and tenacity, he’s now had the pleasure to work with several of them. Debacle Records is excited to be a part of this next chapter in Hayden’s musical career, presenting his full-length LP out October 28th.
As Hayden recalls: “I had an idea to make this album something entirely opposite of my debut album and attempt to make it a full blown acoustic/experimental album and collaborate with people who inspire me. I recorded all the music that summer and when I finished, I decided to start asking some of my heroes to add to the pieces I wrote for the album.” And, as he puts it, “The results where incredible.” Figuring maybe a few people would respond to his requests, Hayden reached out, coming back with the likes of Danny Paul Grody, German composer Steffen Basho-Junghans, and Tompkins Square alum, Mark Fosson and Nick Jonah Davis. The resulting A side is an expansion of his debut effort (Seven Years Too Late), one that alongside friends like Daniel Bachman and Kyle Fosburgh was hailed as ushering in a new generation of primitive Americana-style pickers by NPR’s Lars Gotrich.
“This kid barely looks 17, but definitely has the technique down and an unfocused, yet infectious approach.”
Emboldened by the response from his acoustic brethren, Hayden tested the waters with his experimental heroes, hoping to flesh out the surreal, REM cycle-sourced ideas he’d been developing using field recordings and electronics. Through happenstance and a flush of luck, Hayden found himself working with This Heat’s Charles Hayward, Robert Rich, and English multi-instrumentalist and improvisor Fred Frith on the four B Side tracks titled “Dream Theory Parts One-Four.” Hearing that Faust’s Werner “Zappi” Diermaier had contributed to “Part Three”, Acid Mothers Temple’s Kawabata Makoto asked to be a part of the action, contributing to the creeping track that creates an eerie atmosphere of the unknown which lurks in dark corners.
The result is an 11-track stunner, melding the worlds of rollicking, warm acoustic guitar compositions and dark, unsettling ambient experimentations. Each side could solidly stand on its own; however together they represent the precocious ideas of a small-town artist on the edge of breaking out. Next up for Hayden: Curating the revived Imaginational Anthem series for its seventh edition for Tompkins Square.
Physical Release Date - October 28th, 2014
Digital Release Date - November 4th, 2014
Side A
L’hannah feat. Mark Fosson
Across the Pond feat. Chuck Johnson
Be Thankful feat. Nick Jonah Davis (Digital Only)
Five Steps feat. Steffen Basho-Junghans
Stray feat. Danny Paul Grody
Ramble for Peter Walker
If I Could Go Back
Side B
Dream Theory Part One feat. Charles & Merlin Hayward
Dream Theory Part Two feat. Fred Frith
Dream Theory Part Three feat. Werner “Zappi” Diermaier & Kawabata Makoto
Dream Theory Part Four feat. Robert Rich