Cinematic—is there a better word to describe Andrya Ambro’s songwriting? On No More Blue Skies, her third record as Gold Dime, the Queens-based composer’s songs are a widescreen, fiercely intense, hair standing up on the back of your neck kind of art rock. Like Gold Dime’s live performances, these songs are not for the faint of heart. Her drums are angular, darting off in unexpected directions. The guitars tremble and shake. When Ambro opens her mouth up to sing, her vocals are a call to arms.
Before Gold Dime, Ambro was one half of the critically-acclaimed avant garde rock act Talk Normal. With a background in percussion, she was classically trained, studied jazz in school and went deep into West African percussion. Her songs are anchored with truly singular rhythms and percussion driven moments that constantly subvert your expectations. Her voice acts as her fifth limb; both informing and interacting with the drums. On No More Blue Skies, she plays all the drums, sings, produces the samples and is at the helm of most of the record’s compositions. As a band, Gold Dime is a rotating ensemble, featuring Ambro’s talented friends that she’s connected with through the New York music scene for nearly two decades. Collaborators for the album include Brendan Winick, Ian Douglas-Moore and John Bohannon. All compositions exist somewhere in the magical realm of late-period Scott Walker meets Laurie Anderson fronting a more menacing CAN, only the guitars are strikingly emotive like Les Rallizes Denudes.
No More Blue Skies is the closest Ambro’s gotten to capturing the soundscape that lives inside of her head to date. The record was produced entirely by Ambro, and mixed alongside longtime collaborator Nicolas Vernhes. Ambro’s former Talk Normal bandmate and current Kim Gordon guitarist Sarah Register mastered the album. The result is Gold Dime in its absolute highest resolution and an album that demands your full attention.
credits
released October 20, 2023
ALBUM PERSONNEL
Andrya Ambro - drums, vocals, sounds, production
Ian Douglas-Moore - bass, vocals
Brendan Winick - guitar
Jeff Tobias - alto sax “Denise”
Jessica Pavone - strings “Please Not Today” & “We Lose Again”
Kate Mohanty - alto sax “Ronnie Desperation”
Produced by Andrya Ambro
Recorded by Alexis Berthelot at Strange Weather (NY)
Additional Recording by Andrya Ambro
Mixed by Nicolas Vernhes at Sand to Snow (CA)
Additional Mixing by Andrya Ambro
Mastered by Sarah Register (Talk Normal)
“Denise,” “Please Not Today” & “We Lose Again” written by Andrya Ambro • “Wasted Wanted” written by Andrya Ambro & Brendan Winick • ”Interpretations” written by Andrya Ambro & Ian Douglas-Moore • ”Beneath Below” & “Ronnie Desperation” written by Andrya Ambro, Ian Douglas-Moore & John Bohannon
“Ronnie Desperation” is a sister poem to "Johnny Panic" by Kate Mohanty
All lyrics by Andrya Ambro EXCEPT
Text to “Beneath Below” by Sibyl Kempson, Brandon Alex Oakes & Andrya Ambro
ALBUM ART PERSONNEL
Art Direction by Jonny Campolo, Andrya Ambro, Alyse Lamb & Ted McGrath
Album Design & Layout by Jonny Campolo
Front Cover Photograph by Walter Wlodarczyk
Gold Dime is a high drama art rock band led by Andrya Ambro, best known as half the duo Talk Normal. Their 3rd album No More
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