Ross Gentry 'Prism of Dust' [LP]

Polar Seas Recordings presents Prism of Dust, the first release on the label from North Carolina based composer and producer Ross Gentry. Known for previous work on Bathetic, Adversary, and Oscarson under his own name and the Villages moniker, Gentry delivers a deeply textured and emotionally charged album for strings, piano, synthesizers, and electronics. Limited vinyl edition on translucent tan coloured LP.

Created through a process of transformation and renewal, Prism of Dust emerged from years of archived recordings, including sessions featuring a mellotron on loan and string pieces performed by cellist Emmalee Hunnicutt and violinist Megan Drollinger. Early sketches were deconstructed and reshaped using granular synthesis, tape treatment, and digital manipulation, evolving into new forms that blur the lines between origin and outcome. These reimagined fragments intertwine with newly written elements, bringing forward a sound world defined by drift, memory, and subtle turbulence.

Conceptually the album draws from narratives of uncertainty and existential displacement, informed in part by contemporary literature exploring the psychological impact of unexplained events and fractured normalcy. The evolving global climate of isolation and unpredictability during its creation further intensified these themes, lending the record a strong emotional resonance and atmospheric weight.

Written, recorded and performed by Ross Gentry, January through August 2020
Strings performed by Emmalee Hunnicutt cello and Megan Drollinger violin
Strings recorded by Ross Gentry and Patrick Kukucka
Cover photo by jsf
Cover drawing by Lisa Nance
Mastered by Ian Hawgood