Topeka’s Andy McKee presents a gorgeous instrumental debut with Tripliciti

Photo Courtesy of tipliciti’s Facebook

You probably know Andy McKee from his viral acoustic guitar performance of the song “Drifting.” You possibly could have expanded your research on Topeka’s own into his fingerstyle guitar repertoire. What a lot don’t know is that McKee’s current artistic endeavor, tripliciti, has just embarked on its very first venture into the studio to record a full-length LP, garnering the likes of Calum Graham and Trevor Gordon Hall—who both received recognition as “Top 30 Guitarists Under 30” by Acoustic Guitar magazine—in the process.

McKee’s new work blends Americana and jazz, combining steel string, electric and high strung guitars together between the three performers, who all ventured off as solo acts across Europe over the last few years.

Hall—who has toured across 17 countries—is well known for his invention of the kalimbatar, a combination of a guitar and kalimba—a customized African finger piano. This unique sound, reminiscent of a vibraphone, pops up from time-to-time on this self-titled effort, like on “Blue Liquid,” “That Old Familiar Pain,” and “Ursa Major.” “Ursa” closes off the record in a tribute to late Michael Hedges, a well-known finger-picker who died young in a car accident, with a confusing atmosphere and sharp loud, plucking at the same time as sudden, biting background noises in the back half.

The third track, “Journey of Love,” is a good representation of what the polar opposite first two tracks have to offer. While “Never Gets Old” cranks up the speed to the max as the three performers make their way in, and second cut, “The Blue Hour,” goes toward ominous sounding blueness that has bursts of loud climaxes during the laid back runtime, “Journey” meshes the speed and mystery. It would fit perfectly in the right movie, sounding like your typical acoustic ballad, just with more going on behind the scenes.

“For My Father” is the emotional center of the fully instrumental record, a track about McKee’s dad who passed away, and while the song is on a mission to find something in ways other cuts here do not have the same urgency with, it’s moments like the sudden loud strumming in the middle of “Memento Vivere,” and the electric guitar entrance three minutes into “That Old Familiar Pain” that become the most memorable when you become removed from your listen.

“Journey” and “In Lak’ech”—whose main guitar line feels like a vocal (same with “Memento”)— would fit right into a movie soundtrack, while “Hunter’s Moon’s” sharp drum beat, coupled with an ethereal soundscape work well to preface the crescendoing finale. So while the songs may flow together a bit because of the similar instruments and no vocals, there is a bit for everyone to enjoy among the 11-track, 47-minute jaunt, one that surely sounds different in your headphones than it does in your car.

Tripliciti—recorded at Maple Hill Farm with Grammy-winner Corin Nelsen—is available on the group’s website in many forms, including 24-bit WAV, the purest form of audio available, along with MP3 and vinyl. You can also find guitar transcriptions for every track for free here, and if you look close enough, there is an option for a Truefire Course with the band, where you can learn along with McKee in video format.

Andy McKee with Calum Graham and Trevor Gordon Hall play the Lawrence Arts Center this Saturday, August 10. Details on that show here.