“Thresholds (through a hole in the fence)” is a moving journey, an invitation to be carried on waves of sound to an unfamiliar destination." - Phillip Sherbourne, Pitchfork

“A Hole In The Fence” is an alchemical feat of sound, transforming the rise and fall of the accordion into a bright, metallic sheen." - Andrew Ryce, Resident Advisor

Walt McClements is an accordionist, multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Los Angeles. His solo compositions focus on processed accordion, creating patient and emotional meditations that nod to drone and ambient music. His debut record, “A Hole in the Fence” was released in 2021 on American Dreams, and utilized a minimal palette of accordions processed through pedals to create glacial soundscapes and odes to hidden worlds. On his latest record, and first for Western Vinyl, “On a Painted Ocean”, he expands his sonic tools to include lush synths, droning pipe organs, and spirited horns, creating a vibrant journey from solitary stillness to community exuberance. The record also follows last year’s “Rain on the Road”, a collaborative album with harpist Mary Lattimore, released on Thrill Jockey.

Prior to releasing music under his own name, McClements had been a touring member of Weyes Blood, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and Dark Dark Dark, as well as leading New Orleans art-punk brass ensemble Why Are We Building Such A Big Ship? and one man band Lonesome Leash.

Natalia Beylis

Natalia Beylis' music revolves somewhere between sonic story-teller and multi-instrumental explorer. She has released over 40 albums between solo works and collaborations and has appeared on numerous compilations. Based in rural Ireland, her work parallels the lines of her surroundings: creaking trees, farm animals, vocal samples taken from conversations with her neighbours, the northwesterly breeze, creatures rusting in the hedgerows, strange noises from the bog at dusk and rainfall. Lots and lots of rainfall. Her solo compositions and improvisations are a mix of garbled tape collage recordings, manipulated sounds of seemingly mundane objects, eerie mandola mantras and dreamscape piano voyages. While she regularly records on a variety of traditional instruments, she is just as likely to use non-musical sound sources within her compositions. For example, she recently released an album using just the sounds created by a domestic Singer sewing machine. Natalia regularly collaborates with cellist Eimear Reidy, percussionist Willie Stewart in the duo 'Hedgling' and is a member of the group BB84. She also creates pieces for ensembles. Her latest composition, 'Around Here, The Birds Plant The Trees' uses conkers both as a sonic source and as a visual conducting aid to direct the players.