Dylan Golden Aycock Explained

Dylan Golden Aycock
Birth Name:Dylan Golden Aycock
Birth Date:16 October 1985
Birth Place:Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Instrument:Guitar
Genre:Folk drone, pop rock
Occupation:Musician
Years Active:2006–present
Label:Scissor Tail
Associated Acts:Talk West

Dylan Golden Aycock (born 1985) is an American Primitive guitarist and Experimental Musician from Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2016, NPR named Dylan Golden Aycock's Church of Level Track one of the "Top 10 Solo Guitar Records of 2016" [1] Uncut Magazine described him as "respectfully expanding on Takoma School roots, moving towards the sort of chamber folk compositions mastered by James Blackshaw and William Tyler."[2] In the Bandcamp article "New Directions in Acoustic Guitar" Pitchfork writer Marc Masters writes "Aycock credited with nine different instruments, including violin, drums, pedal steel guitar and synthesizers add atmosphere to his thoughtful picking."[3]

Background

Aycock began making music as a turntablist in 2004 before later moving to drums and in 2011 he began playing solo instrumental guitar. He has released music under his own name as well as Talk West, The Doldrums, and in 2007 was a member of the band Mar whose debut album was recorded in Iceland with members of múm and The Album Leaf. His father is a songwriter, poet and radio DJ on NPR and his mother is a painter. In addition, Aycock has an older brother named Jesse Aycock who is lap steel guitar player for Hard Working Americans which is made up of Todd Snider, Dave Schools (of Widespread Panic), guitarist Neal Casal, keyboard player Chad Staehly and drummer Duane Trucks.

Music

Aycock was first a member of The Doldrums and Mar, which started in 2006, this was before he became a solo artist. Aycock formed The Doldrums with Mark Kuykendall at the age of 19. Before releasing music under his own name, Aycock used Talk West as working title for his solo music. Most of the Talk West releases were focused around the Pedal Steel guitar and cassette.[4] In 2016, Aycock released a critically acclaimed solo album entitled Church of Level Track, The album takes its name from the infamous train moniker artist Colossus of Roads. Aside from solo and collaborative works, Aycock founded the record label Scissor Tail Editions in 2010 at the age of 24. The label released albums from Scott Tuma of Souled American, Scott Hirsch of Hiss Golden Messenger, Nadia Reid whose album Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs received critical acclaim from The New York Times, The Guardian, Pitchfork and NPR, BBC Music and many others.[5] [6] [7] [8] Aycock's most notable contribution to Scissor Tail was reissuing the soundtrack for Peter Fonda's 1971 American western film The Hired Hand.[9] The film score was composed by Bruce Langhorne who is most known for his session work in Greenwich Village in the early '60s. Bruce Langhorne accompanied Bob Dylan, Odetta, Richie Havens, and many others.[10] [11] In 2017, a few months before Langhorne's death, Aycock compiled tribute album to Bruce Langhorne with Loren Connors.[12] The tribute album featured John Fahey, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Gunn, Susan Alcorn, Eugene Chadbourne, Califone, Elliott Sharp and many other notable instrumentalists.[13] [14] Following the release of the tribute album Aycock organized two tribute concerts for Bruce Langhorne, one in New York City with Steve Gunn, Steven Shelley of Sonic Youth[15] and one concert in London.

Discography

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
USUS
Folk
US
Heat
2013Rise and Shine
  • Released: February 14, 2013
  • Label: Scissor Tail Records
  • Format: LP, digital download
- - -
2016Church of Level Track
  • Released: September 16, 2016
  • Label: Scissor Tail Records
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
- - -

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Top 10 Solo Guitar Records Of 2016. npr.org. 14 April 2017.
  2. Web site: Teenage Fanclub and September's album highlights reviewed - Uncut. 27 September 2016. uncut.co.uk. 14 April 2017.
  3. Web site: New Directions in Acoustic Guitar: Dylan Golden Aycock, Ignatz, & Norberto Lobo. Editorial. 29 September 2016. bandcamp.com. 14 April 2017.
  4. Web site: Talk West. discogs.com. 14 April 2017.
  5. News: New Music From Mansion, Nadia Reid and Heather Leigh. Ben. Ratliff. The New York Times . 23 December 2015. NYTimes.com.
  6. Web site: Nadia Reid: Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs review – introspection and oomph on indie-soul debut. Michael. Hann. 17 December 2015. the Guardian.
  7. Web site: Songs We Love: Nadia Reid, 'Call The Days'. .
  8. Web site: Nadia Reid: Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs Album Review - Pitchfork. pitchfork.com.
  9. Web site: Hear exclusive stream of Bruce Langhorne's The Hired Hand soundtrack - Uncut. 16 October 2014.
  10. Bruce Langhorne, Bob Dylan's 'Mr. Tambourine' Inspiration, Dead at 78. . 17 April 2017 .
  11. News: Bruce Langhorne, Guitarist Who Inspired 'Mr. Tambourine Man,' Dies at 78. Bill. Friskics-Warren. The New York Times . 16 April 2017. NYTimes.com.
  12. Web site: Bruce Langhorne, legendary folk musician and 'Mr. Tambourine Man' inspiration, has died. 14 April 2017.
  13. Web site: 'The Hired Hands' Recognizes Bruce Langhorne, One Of Modern Guitar's Hidden Heroes. .
  14. Web site: For the Benefit of Mr. Tambourine Man. 11 January 2017.
  15. Web site: Steve Gunn covered two Smiths songs (listen), playing benefit in Brooklyn w/ Steve Shelley, Loren Connors & more. BrooklynVegan.