Meet Chicago singer-songwriter and producer, William Steffey, the Reality Jockey (Aquariphone). His 11-track manifesto includes two engaging instrumentals but it’s his kaleidoscopic worldview punctuated by bursts of surprising alacrity that made me sit up and take notice. It’s all over the musical map from progressive splashes and power-pop to funky mainstream rock and psychedelic flourishes. Horns figure mightily into the mix, and the textures thereof permit an expressive and expansive program that will have you returning to its charms over and over again.
Call the Pros
There are drawbacks to being able to do everything on a recording! I started appreciating the concept of collaboration only after the mid-2010’s when I