Mosses: T.V. Sun

Rudi Greenberg on May 11, 2020
Mosses: T.V. Sun

If you’ve been following the Northeast’s experimental DIY rock scene, then you’re likely already familiar with drummer Ryan Jewell, thanks to his work with Ryley Walker, Chris Forsyth, Steve Gunn, Elkhorn and many other guitar-oriented acts. With Mosses, Jewell gets to play bandleader, partnering with singer and pianist Danette Bordenkircher and a rotating cast of special guests for the group’s first proper physical release, T.V. Sun. The LP plays like an expansive trip through the cosmos, touching on a variety of psychedelic styles throughout 10 tracks. Flutedriven album-opener “Tall Bearded Iris Speckled” explores baroque folk rock before bleeding into the title track, which builds to a space funk-jam. The-ambient “Moonstone,” meanwhile, seems like a nod to Ned Lagin and Phil Lesh’s famed “Seastones” explorations. Things get mystical on “Another Plan” and “Ahh Auspicious,” both of which feature ethereal backing vocals from Meg Baird. Jewell, whose technical skills on the kit are always a marvel to witness live, shows his full range here, playing a variety of percussive instruments, synthesizers, organ, guitars and also contributing vocals. On the all-too-brief “Crazy Wind,” he even plays banjo dulcimer, exploring the psychedelic side of bluegrass. For the chaotic “Time in Yer Mind,” Mosses nods to the swirling, fuzzy organ work and fast tempos of the Nuggets era. By the time T.V. Sun closes with the electronic jam “You Can’t Fall Off a Mountain,” it feels like Jewell has taken listeners on a journey through the history of psychedelic music—or, perhaps, his record collection.