Last year’s album Daylight Daylight – a mostly acoustic, mostly solo affair – is one of singer/songwriter/guitar god Steve Gunn’s most extraordinary records, a distinctive blend of tone poem and folk pop that takes full advantage of Gunn’s unique gifts. So it’s no wonder the guitarist keeps the vibe going with his new EP Shape of a Wave. A companion piece of sorts to Daylight, Shape fills out the minimalist sound of its parent, beginning with the title track. Given a full-band sound by producer James Elkington, the song adds reserved drums, melodic bass, and lonesome pedal steel to Gunn’s standard pondering of the universe, resulting in a tuneful, wistful ditty that beats yacht rock at its own game. “Mahina” goes even softer, with some subtle ambient electronics heralding a gorgeous guitar and (double-tracked) vocal ballad. The other two tracks feature remixes by British psychedelitician Sonic Boom, painting the LP’s “Nearly There” and “Another Fade” with various shades of synthesizer yellow and feedback green. Though brief, Shape of a Wave is as strong as the LP it’s meant to compliment.
