“Upper Constant,” the latest release by Chicago’s Nad Navillus, combines spiky jazz, bedroom balladeering, pulsing minimalism and trance-inducing house grooves to create something entirely new.
Drawing on sources like like Miles Davis’s “In a Silent Way” and John Fahey’s “Fare Forward Voyagers,” guitarist Dan Sullivan assembled a full band that creates tapestries of melody, texture and rhythm. Madeleine Aguilar (keyboards, percussion), Rob Bochnik (baritone guitar), Andy Hall (drums) and Eddie Matthews (tenor and soprano saxophone) elevate mood above chops as they create a detailed framework around Sullivan’s distinctive electric fingerstyle guitar playing.
Recorded by Brok Mende of Friends of Friends Recording, “Upper Constant” captures the excitement of a new band creating a new kind of music. The band — and the music — came together organically as Sullivan played club dates to promote “Forgotten Portraits,” the 2023 release that started as a solo project but soon recruited willing collaborators.
That collaborative approach is present throughout “Upper Constant” as evident on “Person of Interest”, where Sullivan’s smoky guitar, Matthews’ tenor sax, and Aguilar’s synth weave together on an evocative, haunting melody. On “Joseph’s Dream” Hall’s and Aguilar’s driving rhythm rise and fall alongside Sullivan’s skipping guitar, with elegant melodic contributions by Matthews and Bochnik. The cyclical chord progression set over 3/4 time of “Forget Me Not” continually unfold to create a sense of discovery, leading to a marquee solo by Matthews.
“Upper Constant” is the sixth Nad Navillus release for Sullivan, who has also recorded and performed with Glen Hansard and Songs: Ohia, as well with his long-running art-metal ensemble Arriver. On this record, Sullivan plays guitars that he built himself which are available for sale at
navillusguitars.com.
As the owner of Navillus Woodworks, Sullivan also builds furniture and custom furniture that can be seen on the TV series The Bear and the music mecca The Salt Shed. His public-art collaborations with his wife Edra Soto can be found around the country and in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum.
The Lost Year
Emerging from Chicago’s vibrant musical landscape, The Lost Year is a compelling force in the indie rock genre. With their distinct blend of introspective lyricism, dreamy melodies, and subdued (but at times explosive) energy, this four-piece band captivates audiences with their authentic sound and impassioned performances.
