“Murl Allen Sanders's 1981 solo work Guides and Spirits is a previously overlooked but canonical entry into the world of airy solo piano, from the time when labels like Windham Hill and ECM were popularizing the sound - gently balancing between new age, classical, and jazz. Murl adds Pacific Northwest sensibilities from his studio in Seattle, Washington - coloring his sound palette with the moody, foggy landscape of the region. His compositions land somewhere between the forest and the sea in their naturalistic approach - flowing with the currents, but grounded in deep introspective intention. His pensive playing and light ostinatos evoke contemporaries such as Tom Schmidt's "Deer Park", Keith Jarrett's works in the mid 1970s, and even Satsuki Shibano's renditions of Scriabin.

We are grateful to offer original sealed vintage copies of “Guides And Spirits”, graciously offered to us by our friend Adam Oko - who originally discovered Murl’s record in a dusty Melbourne back room many years ago & has helped shed new light upon these recordings in collaboration with the artist.” — Incidental Music

EX - sealed deadstock copy