Deep Dream is the second solo studio album by American rock musician Richard James Simpson, released in April 2019 by Rehlein Music.[2] It contains 17 songs, most of them written by Simpson with three co-written by his former Teardrain bandmate, bassist Jill Emery, and one co-written by Dustin Boyer. Two songs feature members of Simpson's 1990s band Teardrain. Most of the tracks were produced by Simpson himself, with three produced by Paul Roessler, and one by Teardrain and Jack Waterson. The album features Don Bolles from the Germs, Dustin Boyer from the John Cale band, and Ygarr Ygarrist from Zolar X.[3][4] It combines traditional songs with several short experimental pieces. Simpson was inspired by David Bowie's late 1970s albums Low and Heroes, as well as the work of film composers Pino Donaggio, Fred Karlin, Michael Small, and Vangelis.[5]
The album was recorded in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and at Paul Roessler's Kitten Robot Studios.[6] It was mastered by Geza X, who previously worked with Simpson on his 2017 debut album Sweet Birds of Youth.