‘Gambler’ by Shifting Earth is an Instrumental Album that Contains Multitudes

‘Gambler’ by Shifting Earth is a 17-track instrumental psychedelic rock album, that incorporates elements of free-form jazz, blues and RnB. It’s songs mainly use pianos, guitars, strings, percussion and synths to create soundscapes that take listeners on self-contained journeys.

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‘Gambler’: Dynamic Imagery and Kinetic Mood

‘Mountain’ opens the album, with synths that conjures up dynamic imagery that expands and pulls the listener in. ‘The Reckoner’ is a bit moodier, characterised by deeper synths and drums that gives the song a sense of gravitas.

‘Sapo’ and ‘Monte Carlo’ are shorter songs that inject the album with a fresh energy. ‘Sapo’ introduces this improvised, playful, jazz-y tone that feels like a palette-cleanser. This while ‘Monte Carlo’ builds on this with a deeper, dark playfulness that sounds a bit more RnB.

‘Corrector’ immediately feels slower, more deliberate with strings and rhythmic drums at its core. The guitars that burst through in the song’s second half give it a funky lift that builds before bursting.

‘Limitless’ feels like a genre-blend that trickles through with its guitars, horns and strings that feels bluesy and warm. While ‘Mycelium Floor’ uses its strings and drums to create a mood of dulcet, layered, yet twisted lament.

‘Phosphorous’ is characteristed by dark pianos and guitars played in interesting ways to create sense of vapoured darkness, with a percussion at its heart. Its abrupt ending leads into ‘Million Dollar Beat’ with its relaxing synths and percussion. Guitars come in to add another dimension to the song.

‘Gambler’: Deep Sounds and Satisfying Conclusions

‘Waves of the Whistler’ loops deep-sounding horns and synths in a familiar melody, that come together in a grand cacophony that ebbs into a cathartic finale by the end. ‘The Moho’ keeps up this sense of melodious cacophony with its strings, synths and percussion that build and break down.

‘The Void’ is a unique string-led interpretation of emptiness thats filled to the brim with tremulous strings and dark xylophones. ‘Armageddon’ is characterised by synths that simultaneously sound desolate and kinetic. While ‘Runner’ uses its synths to create a fast-paced build to a crescendo.

‘Worm Food’ uses calm synths and what sound like vocal samples to create a groovy sounds that sound a bit like morse code. ‘St Elmo’s Fire’ uses a familiar melody with strings and drums to capture an emotion. The closing track ‘Morphin’ Lights’ introduces a calmness that builds into something peppy with groove that fades out to resolve.

All in all, ‘Gambler’ by Shifting Earth is an album that uses a range of instruments to create multiple self-contained multitudes. This collection makes for an easy listen.

The Artist

Shifting Earth is a psychedelic studio jam band and the brainchild of Austin hand and Ben Rodgers. They are known for their boundless creativity and impeccable musicianship, and strive to introduce their listeners to new dimensions of sound.