The Mommy Row is guitarist Philip Gayle's monstrous, magma opus; the biggest, jaw-popping swallow one can now take in the upper/outer echelon of free thinking acoustic voyagers. This gent's three previous solo records collected smitten global praise yet held no clues this would be next. Recorded in pristine audiophile splendor, the NYC-via-Houston-based Gayle multi-tracked himself in duo, trio, hell -- sextet catacombs of 12-string guitar, aluminum egg bar, prepared toy piano, baritone ukulele, hand held cymbals, classical guitar, gongs plus an isle more of stringed wood and tempered metals. At its core, Gayle locks these spatial clusters, subtracting adding or multiplying the bent themes that pass between, into a cohesive oft melodic form that shows itself in genius flashes. Orbiting an overtly damaged sphere risen from Eugene Chadbourne, Sun City Girls, Thelonius Monk, Christopher Tree, Harry Bertoia, and years of bedroom perfection, these pieces owe most to the moment of recording. Gayle's style remains totally unique, crossing itself with Oriental motifs, classical, humor, flamenco and free improv leanings.
