{"product_id":"ben-lamar-gay-downtown-castles-can-never-block-the-sun-ia11-edition","title":"Ben LaMar Gay - Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun (IA11 Edition)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003eBen LaMar Gay’s de facto debut album, 'Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun', was our attempt to introduce the legendary Chicago composer \/ improviser \/ renaissance man to the rest of the world with a compilation of tracks from 7 albums he made over 7 years (though he hadn’t yet made the effort to actually release). The material showcases Gay’s penchant for genre-hopping – from Steve Reich-ian soundscape voyages to Don Cherry-esque polyrhythm treks to Jorge Ben-style vocal-and-string earworms – while keeping his singular musical voice in focus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the years since its release, this long OOP collection has become a touchstone, foreshadowing the breadth and scope of Gay’s output since. The songs-between-the-songs warped Soul Americana madness and beauty of 'Open Arms To Open Us', the unhinged long form freedom of 'Certain Reveries' – each fresh mode would defy expectation if without the context established by Downtown Castles. To quote our OG announcement of the album: “to call it ‘eclectic’ would only scratch the surface. This music is everything.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe IA11 Edition of this LP comes with an IARC2025 obi strip plus a 4-page insert booklet featuring new (old) photos and new liner notes by musician (and longtime BLG friend\/collaborator) Gira Dahnee.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003eReleased March 28, 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCompiled \u0026amp; Sequenced by Scott McNiece \u0026amp; Ben LaMar Gay.\u003cbr\u003eMastered by David Allen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCover Art \u0026amp; Photos by Maren Celest.\u003cbr\u003eIA11 Liner Notes by Gira Dahnee.\u003cbr\u003eOriginal Layout by Craig Hansen.\u003cbr\u003eIA11 Layout by Aaron Lowell Denton.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"info license\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"cc-icons commercial\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"license\" class=\"info license\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"cc-icons commercial\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAll rights reserved\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"International Anthem","offers":[{"title":"Classic Black Vinyl LP (IA11 Edition)","offer_id":53919335285077,"sku":"IARC0017LP11","price":22.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1049\/0419\/6437\/files\/0038963340_10_1.jpg?v=1779457984","url":"https:\/\/international-anthem.k7store.com\/products\/ben-lamar-gay-downtown-castles-can-never-block-the-sun-ia11-edition","provider":"International Anthem","version":"1.0","type":"link"}