Description

While Impermanence is Peter Silbermans first solo album, it could easily be thought of as a continuation of the emotional-spiritual odyssey begun through his work in The Antlers over the past decade. It travels some of the thornier terrain of the trios previous albums Hospice, Burst Apart and Familiars while carrying the conversation further down the path.

A few years back, Silberman developed a hearing impairment in his left ear that resulted in a temporarily total hearing loss, extraordinarily loud tinnitus and an excruciating sensitivity to everyday noises. The condition required extensive rest and quiet and in order to get that, he left his Brooklyn apartment for a more secluded setting in upstate New York.

As the sensitivity began to subside, I gradually re-introduced sound into my world, gently playing nylon-string acoustic guitar and whisper-singing. This once-solid element had become so fragile and tenuous, and I began to suspect that nothing was quite as stable as Id believed it to be.

Id come across the notion of impermanence through a number of authors Alan Watts, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chödrön, and Chögyam Trungpa but it wasnt until this experience that the idea resonated strongly, and felt so widely applicable, explains Peter. Writing Impermanence became my effort to meditate on what had happened, and grasp what it had taught me: about my mortality, compassion, and change.

As the writing neared completion, Silberman linked up with his long-time friend and collaborator Nicholas Principe of Port St. Willow. Over the course of a few winter months Principe engineered the album in his upstate People Teeth studio, contributing production throughout. Together, they carved out a sacred sonic space, elongating the distance between notes, between chords, utilizing minimal arrangements to allow breathing room.

I hope Impermanence can provide comfort to people grappling with transition, while remaining honest about it. Theres no remedy for the unpredictable, and I want this record to reflect that, to offer an alternative way to think about changing circumstances.

Heavyweight LP includes digital download code.