Dubious Ranger began as a band name concocted by classical pianist Alexander Eccles. As a band name warrants a band, he took the plunge and formed a peculiar brand of art-rock based in his hometown of San Francisco.

Dubious Rangerʼs newest album, Found Recordings From The Panda Valley Mining Company c.1931, sounds like a blend of Tom Waits and Beck and is a creative collaboration between Alexander and percussionist/ceramicist Gabe Turow.

Set in an imaginary mining town, this completely homemade album was made with a tea kettle, rusty pipes, a $10 amp, African bells, a broken old piano, an upright bass, and a host of various things being thrown against the wall. It doesn’t sound too promising we know, but one listen and we were hooked. From the call and response repetition of the stomping opening track Sarsaparilla to the closing bars of The New Eve the whole album is as gripping and as engaging as anything we’ve heard recently. An unexpected gem that is destined for many repeat listens on the MM stereo.

Found Recordings From The Panda Valley Mining Company c.1931 will be released on May 22nd.

Download Dubious Ranger – The Mayor mp3 (from Found Recordings From The Panda Valley Mining Company c.1931)

Download Dubious Ranger – The New Eve mp3 (from Found Recordings From The Panda Valley Mining Company c.1931)

Follow @madmackerel