Years before Radiohead put Sigur Rós on the map, Ric (pronounced "Rich") Hordinski was painting soundscapes on Over the Rhine records. His instrumental interludes and echo-laden guitar gave the band a rich, layered sound, and kept the band from falling headlong into the mid-tempo singer-songwriter abyss. Since leaving OTR, Ric has appeared on records with David Wilcox, Victoria Williams and Robbie Fulks. He's produced award-winning records for a host of folks including Wilcox and Phil Keaggy. On his own, hiding behind the Monk moniker, he released five independent records that featured alternately the songwriting craft he honed during his eight years in OTR, the ambient guitar that garnered demand as a studio musician and the ear for songcraft that makes him an excellent producer.

His latest offering, when i consider how my light is spent, finds him not only working under his own name for the first time, but bridging his vocal and instrumental compositions. Ghosts of the soundtracks he's scored, loop-based spoken word excursions and beautiful acoustic guitar sit happily beside sophisticated alterna-pop songs and textural exhibitions.

Ric worked with one of the world's most respected and experimental guitarists, David Torn, during the final stages of the record. "David has an amazing ear. It's obvious why people like David Bowie, Jeff Beck and Tori Amos are always making sure that he's contributing to their records. Just knowing that we would be sitting in the same room working on this stuff really inspired me to be a bit more daring in the arrangements."

Also making large contributions to the record is David LaBruyere, currently on tour with John Mayer. "I've been really lucky," says Ric, "to have worked with some of the best bass players in the world—Tony Levin and Victor Wooten to name two—and David is at the very top of my list."

Ric's sweeping, cinematic layers of guitar create one of the most distinct and creative sounds in the rock'n'roll. His latest release builds upon that atmospheric base with sublime hooks, intriguing lyrics, and an amazing supporting cast, creating his best offering yet.