Jose Medeles with Marc Ribot High Above the Ground LP (Black & White Splatter Vinyl)

Though this record is technically a José Medeles album co-starring Marc Ribot, the drummer approached the project by imagining how his playing would work alongside the New Jersey-born songwriter. It's something he's thought about a lot over the years when listening to Marc's music.

"Marc is one of my favorite living guitar players and writers, and I have often tried to imagine what my drumming voice would sound like with his playing — he's inspired me that much as an artist," Medeles explains. As such, he approached the session with an excitement aided by just a bit of anxiety. It was to be a singular moment in his recording career. "This particular session was a musical Mount Everest for me, and I am definitely a better drummer and creative after the session. It was just so open and freeing," he adds.

Describing the process, Medeles broke it down simply enough: "Essentially what happened is that two musicians that are viciously dedicated to their instruments got together in a beautiful studio one afternoon and played for the sheer love of playing." The duo decamped to Tucker Martine's Flora Recording and Playback to document the performance, and in the studio they were able to capture the raw immediacy of something akin to a concert with all of the clarity offered in a world-class recording space. It's the perfect middle ground between prepared and whimsical.