From a distance, the nine stories from The Hornbook sound like a pleasant get-together in the here and now, but when we zoom in on the cover art and lyrics it turns out to be a dark and absorbing fantasies transcending time. So yeah, Gus Englehorn—the professional snowboarder from Alaska who became an indie-rock singer-songwriter in Hawaii—is doing what he does best on his new album (we were fans of his 2022 Dungeon Master LP, even more so when we saw him and his wife Estée Preda perform it live). As he says: “When I was writing these songs, it felt like I was making a children’s book, but it also felt like a cipher for our whole world.” And so we travel here through a tangle of surreal images and a patchwork of musical styles, colorful and exciting. This is not easy fare, more of a musical cipher for the curious and the fearless—grown-ups only—who are open to sonic adventures beyond period.

The Hornbook—written, composed and performed by Gus Englehorn, produced by Mark Lawson, Gus Englehorn and Estée Preda—is out now digitally, on CD, vinyl LP and hand painted limited edition cassette, through Secret City Records. Featuring Gus Englehorn (vocals, guitar), Estée Preda (drums. synths, vocals), Josh Toal (bass, organ), Frisco Lee (piano) and Jaime Thompson (foley effects).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Secret City