The first taste from Welsh guitarist and banjoist Gwenifer Raymond’s forthcoming album, Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark, was a tribute to rocket scientist Jack Parsons, entitled “Jack Parsons Blues.” In addition to his pioneering engineering skills, Parsons, amongst many other fascinating aspects of his short life, was also known for converting to Aleister Crowley’s occult religion thelema at the end of the 1930s. This song might also be a nod to musical peers Six Organs of Admittance, who released “Blues for Jack Parsons” back in 2012. Now, Raymond returns with the second single and title track from her new album (due September 5).

I mention all this to give some context to how I understand the inventive and moving music of Gwenifer Raymond. Similar to Parsons, she is grounded in two worlds, one of tradition and lineage and one of experimentation and magick. In a statement, she described Jack Parsons as “oddly inspirational” and a person “full of boundless zeal and ideas. He was both a scientist and an embracer of the weird and esoteric.” Some of the same can be said for Raymond, who is deeply rooted in Mississippi blues, Appalachian folk, American Primitivism and the avant-garde — her world contains multitudes. There’s deep soil beneath her feet, but she’s not walking a well-trodden path, instead using the traditional to create something original and deeply personal.

Her two previous albums were both astonishing, but based on the new songs, she’s taking it even a step further this time. Her guitar playing is on fire, with more evolved textures and added sonic palettes. Raymond is proving that simple, fingerpicked guitars can rise from the earth, head towards the stars and contain the entire cosmos. And like Jack Parsons, she might actually be part scientist and part dark, spiritual leader.

This text was originally published on tidal.com/magazine August 8, 2025.