His ambient explorations on hold for now, Houston-based guitarist Kelly Doyle returns to his primary instrument on Thieves (Strolling Bones), a nine-track instrumental work that manages to find thematic cohesion amid hazy explorations of jazz, exotica, psychedelia and film music. Doyle has spent much of his career as the sort of versatile player who can comfortably move in any circle. Around Houston, you might find him leading a jazz trio one evening and playing guitar with a honky-tonk act the next. That reputation has led to work with Robert Ellis, Phosphorescent, Craig Finn and others.
Produced and mixed by Steve Christensen (Khruangbin, Steve Earle), Thieves isn’t a virtuoso showcase. Instead, Doyle’s guitar is simply one element in a series of sonic environments that suggest lost movie fragments—where sturdy melodies and carefully constructed arrangements take precedence over busyness for its own sake.
Here’s Doyle’s take on the album.
—Hobart Rowland
1) “Thieves”
“Cinematic and tense, the title track blends noir jazz and improvisational interplay. It’s a slow-build instrumental that feels like the score to a heist scene: moody, textured and full of character.”
2) “Pink Houses”
“Dreamy and ambient, with an angular groove. Think a post-jazz meets lo-fi score, with a psychedelic shimmer.”
3) “Cold Open”
“Kinda like if Wim Wenders made a spaghetti Western in space. It feels like a lost soundtrack cue: moody, spacious and careful. The characters float off into space and die.”
4) “Needlerooser”
“Angular and playful, this a juxtaposition to most of the rest of the record. But really, it’s just a quick vehicle for improvisation.”
5) “A Year And A Day”
“An ambient, cinematic meditation with restrained jazz phrasing. Somber and spacious, this track channels time, distance and introspection.”
6) “Big Fish”
“Delicate harmonics and bell-like guitar tones paint a serene soundscape. ‘Big Fish’ was recorded live in one take and captures a painterly, oceanic calm.”
7) “Found A Knife”
“Minimal, moody exotica with nods to Les Baxter and Martin Denny, ‘Found A Knife’ leans into negative space, giving the rhythm section room to shine.”
8) “Bats Are Cute”
“This song was directly inspired by the rhythmic quality found in Martin Denny’s Exotica record. I love the sounds of ’50s exotica; it’s something I can’t seem to shake. Pairing the improvising with panning effects from Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew/Live-Evil era created a nice mood. It made the exotica side of the song creepier and less campy.”
9) “Lodge Scene”
“Atmospheric and slow burning, ‘Lodge Scene’ is Lynch-ian jazz with ambient and even subtle metal overtones. Think Angelo Badalamenti serenading an empty motel.”
See Kelly Doyle live.