The esteemed songwriter, guitarist, and vocal stylist Rebecca Pidgeon is set to captivate fans again new with the release of her 12th album, Unillusion. Recorded primarily at Forward Motion Studios in Los Angeles with long producer Fernando Perdomo, this album marks a return to organic, acoustic sounds of her Chesky Records debut The Raven. Unillusion is being released on CD, digital download and streaming platforms on Toy Canteen Records, August 29th.
Pidgeon conceived of Unillusion as a more relaxed and intimate recording from the start to contrast with the intricate, polished, layered sound of her most recent albums. When she discussed her ideas with Perdomo, he had her look at episodes of MTV Unplugged series and Rebecca decided then and there, “It felt like the right approach—minimal, human, with moments that are as stripped down as just voice and acoustic guitar.”
Pidgeon and Fernando went into the studio with a team of outstanding musicians: Perdomo (bass, electric guitar); Andy Studer (violin, viola), Eszter Balint (violin on “Monkey Man” and “Where is the Man”); Matt Tecu (drums); Rebecca on acoustic guitar and vocals. Together, they recapture the unfiltered warmth and immediacy of her earliest recordings while showing impressive sonic evolution, showcasing her ever-maturing songwriting.
The album’s lyric themes range from the epic to the deeply personal. Tracks like “Dasharatha” draw inspiration from the ancient Indian epic poem, the Ramayana, weaving timeless tales of jealousy, grief, and rebirth into contemporary idiom recalling work like Bob Dylan’s “Isis” or PJ Harvey’s retelling of the Biblical story of Samson and Delilah in “Hair.” More personal tracks venture into raw, emotional territories, resonating with listeners on a deeply human level.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of Unillusion, which offers eloquent testimony to Rebecca Pidgeon’s continuing power as a storyteller on stage, screen or the recording studio with an uncanny ability to blend narrative depth and musical intimacy in a way that feels both timeless and current. Across ten tracks, Pidgeon presents an expansive vision of fully realized folk-rock that is soulful and deep with thoughtful lyricism. While Pidgeon’s vocals stay in the spotlight throughout with a sense of intimacy and urgency, her backing band adds layers of strings and cool instrumentals to give each song its own depth and textures.
Pidgeon sums up the album:
“‘Unillusion’ began with just voice and guitar — simple, intimate recordings that became the heart of each track.
I wanted the sound to feel organic and spacious, rooted in acoustic textures but able to rise into full-band moments with power and lift. These songs move between delicacy and strength, and trace both mythic and personal journeys through transformation and self-discovery.”
LISTEN:
