When Mountains Speak is a ground-breaking recording project which debuted in 2020 with the single “The Ocean”. It was the first entry into what would quickly grow to become an extensive catalog of experimental post-rock and acid jazz. The music is all the result of the avant-garde vision of multi-instrumentalist composer, producer, and Texas native, Steven Clarkson. 

Regular readers of The Static Dive will remember previous releases from When Mountains Speak, Old Fades to New and Skipping the Divide. Since debuting the project, Steven Clarkson has worked with collaborators around the world to produce nearly two dozen albums of free-form improvisational psychedelia. Last month Steven released his first music of the new year, and this time he’s going solo.

Solitude is the brand new LP from When Mountains Speak, released worldwide via all major streaming services on February 29, 2024. The seven-song set continues Clarkson’s sonic explorations. Working with an entirely organic toolset, he paints complex and at times unsettling soundscapes.

The record opens with “Cast Hate Aside”, a haunting piece that marries Western improvisation with some Far East vibes. As the LP progresses, pieces like “Excalibur”, “Karch Hangout” and “lunar” continue the sonic journey, taking it from its mystical roots into the ether. Along the way, the core ensemble of piano, bass, and guitar meets saxophones, analog synths, and a broad spectrum of otherworldly sounds.