Black Duck’s self-titled debut is the double guitar and drum trio record that dreams are made of.

Born out of Chicago’s mighty improv scene, Black Duck is guitarist and bassist Douglas McCombs, guitarist Bill MacKay and drummer Charles Rumback, each a heavy weight of talent in their own right. Across the record’s eight tracks, the group explores the extensive musical vocabulary and arsenal of textures and colors that exist between their shared powers.

From quasi-ambient dronescapes to racing atmospheric guitar duels and earthy meditative dirges, this LP displays the sheer virtuosity and massive range of the Chicago trio. Yet, no matter what particular end of the volume, style or intensity spectrum you’ll find the band reveling in on this record, the guitar tones are always superbly evocative and Rumback’s firecracker drumming never ceases to dazzle.

This album is a deep zone full of remarkable subtlety that reveals more of its finer details the more you play it. If you need a record that has an ambience you could just completely dwell inside of for a while, then Black Duck might just be THE album of the year for you. Click here to get your copy from Thrill Jockey today.

-KH