Band photo by Steph Heath with Smiling Eyes Media 

This is a new group / collective to me and I also had not heard of John Mailander prior to getting the opportunity to preview this album.  Much thanks to Erin Scholze at Dreamspider Publicity for the opportunity as I really enjoyed this EP.

The first song on this release is an interpretation of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s “Little Wheel Spin and Spin” which first came out on the 1966 album of the same title.  The opening thirty seconds set a slightly tense vibe with a sharp melody line that is tempered by some softer touches.  Train’s vocals ride the edge of the sonic atmosphere here, mostly in front but occasionally falling back, swallowed up in a wave of emotive sound.  The arrangement does a great job of continuing to build tension behind the vocal, gradually bringing in sparse but dynamic percussion.  The song continues to wind itself up through the first three minutes.  The most interesting part for me is that you do not get a big release here, no great cascade that finally breaks the tension.  It kind of washes itself out through the interplay of the instruments and leaves things unresolved at the end.  

“Hope, Looming” is next and this is a purely instrumental track.  It starts wistful and slow with a  quiet guitar melody punctuated by a stark bass and light piano touches.  The arrangement here is very well done, shifting toward a tone that grows more uplifting as other instruments join in.   As you cross over the 2:05 mark of this song things change as the rhythm section gains prominence and the beat quickens.  It is quiet at first and then volume builds along with a blooming musical atmosphere that gathers force and energy.  Right after the four minute mark it dissolves into atmospheric keys followed by aggressive percussion and then a final section that I think can be interpreted several ways but it left me with mostly a nostalgic feeling.  

The final track is “(turnstile)” and although it is a short fifty-five seconds this one is interesting enough to warrant multiple loops of listening.  I will leave you to sort it out when you have a chance to give this album as listen.  

Overall I really enjoyed this EP and felt that the listening and emotional experience it delivered was quite noteworthy.  I would recommend that you get a copy (see purchase link below), find some quiet space and really tune in to the music,  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are:  John Mailander (fiddle, piano, electronics), Ethan Jodziewicz (upright & electric bass), Chris Lippincott (pedal steel guitar, Wurlitzer), Dean Miller (tenor saxophone), Mark Raudabaugh (drums, percussion) and Jake Stargel (acoustic guitar).  Special guest doing vocals on “Little Wheel Spin and Spin” – Kristina Train.

Streaming link: 

https://ffm.to/pkmbjow

Purchase link: 

https://johnmailander.bandcamp.com/album/little-wheel-hope-looming

Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.johnmailander.com

https://www.instagram.com/johnmailander

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂