Luke Schneider – For Dancing in Quiet Light Review

What does Luke Schneider sound like?

Pedal steel guitarist embraces his ambient side.

The review of ‘For Dancing in Quiet Light’ by Luke Schneider

Luke Schneider loves his pedal steel guitar and has been working it into an ambient setting. For his new EP ‘For Dancing in Quiet Light’, Luke focuses on a soft rhythmic pulse across 40 minutes of tonal drones. The result is an EP that sounds like a slow-motion panoramic drift out to sea.

The four tracks all focus on the same type of sound structure. Luke’s pedal steel guitar hums and drones with a gentle uplick of a twang, and it is the twang that sets the soft rhythm. The title track is ethereal and light, with bright and breathy layers mixed in to make it difficult to know where each guitar note ends. There are no synths in the track, but it doesn’t sound like it, such is the craftsmanship of Luke’s gentle layering. ‘A Map of Invisible Trails’ is lower in tone, but just as delicate. Then the 14-minute ‘Where the Wind Left Traces’ moves towards a celestial, new-age hue. When wearing headphones, it sounds like the textured layers are brushing the insides of a bowl. Its glacial movements are calming and centring.

Luke Schneider says this release is inspired by his rural Tennessee surroundings, and Lou Reed’s tai chi soundtrack ‘Hudson River Wind Meditations’. Calling this a tai chi album makes a lot of sense, as it is perfect for breath work. The gentle licks of guitar whirring can match your breath, leaving your mind to wander in the dewy lightness of it all. Fans of new-age ambience, hurry to grab some time with this unrushed, graceful release.

Recommended track: For Dancing in Quiet Light

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