good point about The Man Who Died in His Boat, again it's the difference between good b-sides that have similar sonic palettes and b-sides that are made up of previously used melodies and harmonies. i mean listening to this new song, it's like trying to access a burnt out circuit. sure you could put "vital" or "living room" (maybe) on DDD, but they're not melodically similar to anything on that record.
― flappy bird, Friday, 9 March 2018 19:06 (six years ago) link
That just seems to be her process of the last decade or so, doesn't it? She records something and lets it sit for many years before she decides to release it.
I have a friend who is a photographer who works similarly. He shoots and shoots, but he lets a year or more go by before he actually develops the film. I think it puts a distance between him and his work that helps him see it more clearly. I wonder if it's something similar for Harris.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 9 March 2018 20:55 (six years ago) link
while this is bumped, has anyone heard the Raum album? I mean, it might be on streaming, but I'm curious
― sleeve, Friday, 9 March 2018 20:56 (six years ago) link
I haven't listened to the Raum album in awhile but I remember liking it a lot. I discovered Jefre Cantu-Ledesma because of it. He's great too!
― Evan, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:26 (six years ago) link
That just seems to be her process of the last decade or so, doesn't it? She records something and lets it sit for many years before she decides to release it. I have a friend who is a photographer who works similarly. He shoots and shoots, but he lets a year or more go by before he actually develops the film. I think it puts a distance between him and his work that helps him see it more clearly. I wonder if it's something similar for Harris.
― flappy bird, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:28 (six years ago) link
And it’s not similar in the same way DDD or A|A blend together- it’s specific chord sequences and melodies from other songs.
― flappy bird, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:29 (six years ago) link
this new song sucked the air out of my lungs.
I really only know Ruins. Does she have a consensus "this is the one you need to hear" album, or is she one of those "they're all pretty good" kind of artists?
― Evan R, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:38 (six years ago) link
There are many times you'll see artists explore a theme, with small variations on the same idea. She's not a pop or rock artist so we probably don't have to hold her to those standards. Her music is more fit for a gallery, a place where you might see examples of this a lot. Nobody ought to be giving Barnett Newman too much shit for having done essentially the same thing over and over.
xp
― Evan, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:40 (six years ago) link
Fellow Evan please check out Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill. If you're anything like me, it's because we have the same name (but also you'll love it).
― Evan, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:42 (six years ago) link
the only dud is the Wide album imo, everything else is worthwhile but DDD and AIA/Alien Observer are my personal faves
― sleeve, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:44 (six years ago) link
Are you the same Evan who also voted for the same top Los Campesinos! song in that feature about the band last year? If so, then were are indeed very, very (almost eerily) alike.
But I'll check out Dragging a Dead Deer either way, thanks!
― Evan R, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:49 (six years ago) link
Unless I've totally forgotten I did that, there must be a third Evan running around! Either way, enjoy!
― Evan, Friday, 9 March 2018 21:57 (six years ago) link
Does she have a consensus "this is the one you need to hear" album
i think DDD is probably the consensus pick, still, even though you could make arguments for others being better in different ways. but DDD is an outstanding gateway album to her work, and it's hard for me to imagine someone NOT liking it if they like the rest of her work (whereas i really like AIA but i could see someone not liking that while still liking DDD a lot)
― and in my opinionation, the sun is gonna surely shine♪♫ (Karl Malone), Friday, 9 March 2018 22:41 (six years ago) link
A|A Dream Loss / Alien Observer is her masterpiece imo, other than DDD that’s the one most highly regarded. Alien Observer in particular.
― flappy bird, Saturday, 10 March 2018 01:41 (six years ago) link
/ Does she have a consensus "this is the one you need to hear" album/i think DDD is probably the consensus pick, still, even though you could make arguments for others being better in different ways. but DDD is an outstanding gateway album to her work, and it's hard for me to imagine someone NOT liking it if they like the rest of her work (whereas i really like AIA but i could see someone not liking that while still liking DDD a lot)
― flappy bird, Saturday, 10 March 2018 01:43 (six years ago) link
Me I'm trying to find reasons to keep anything prior to DDD on my hard drive.. I don't ever find a place for those records in my life
Also I think "Clearing" is her best song but Ruins is a very weak album
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Saturday, 10 March 2018 14:33 (six years ago) link
i think ruins is fine but it seems worse in the context of her work bc it really lacks the sense of drift she usually nails
― lowercase (eric), Saturday, 10 March 2018 15:15 (six years ago) link
I like the new song. I agree that it sounds similar to some of her other ones but this doesn't bother me. There's different stuff in there also. Sometimes I like artists that have a strong central focus to their work and then explore lots of subtle variations of those ideas. Grouper is a bit like this, William Basinski is like this also. In a completely different idiom, I think Howlin Wolf is like that as well, all are artists I like a lot.
― mirostones, Saturday, 10 March 2018 18:54 (six years ago) link
Imma rep for Way Their Crept here, too. I'd have it over Alien Observer and Ruins all day long.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Sunday, 11 March 2018 14:32 (six years ago) link
Hear Grouper's stunning headlining set at @LEGUESSWHO last fall, featuring new songs and the late Paul Clipson. https://t.co/LqJmRILRfQ— FACT (@FACTmag) March 14, 2018
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 18:13 (six years ago) link
this really is stunning, and a great setlist:
thanksgiving songfield recording 1cover the windows and the wallsfield recording 2no one (four of cups)fishing bird (empty gutted in the evening breeze)field recording 3i saw a ray
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 18:17 (six years ago) link
jesus, when the distortion comes in on 'i saw a ray'
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 18:20 (six years ago) link
page not found?
― sleeve, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 22:04 (six years ago) link
shit it looks like it got pulled? i can't find the set on soundcloud either. it's gotta be a technical issue or something, Liz Harris was quoted in the brief piece saying that she doesn't usually like listening to her own live recordings but that this one was an exception. i'll post it if i find it or they update the page.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 15 March 2018 01:04 (six years ago) link
https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F460766655&show_artwork=true&dnt=1&secret_token=s-tHR28
here it is. this seems like the same setlist she did when i saw her last year, nice to find out what most of the songs were
― ufo, Thursday, 15 March 2018 01:44 (six years ago) link
Oooh sorry for my dumb opinion, I relistened and realized I just don't like "Way Their Crept" on earbuds
Which was how I last listened to it
It's OK, it's pretty good-- Wide is amazing tho, especially the last track-- Cover The Windows is so wild also-- renewed fandom
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 15 March 2018 14:26 (six years ago) link
Close Cloak is the standout track for me.
― The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums (Chinaski), Thursday, 15 March 2018 17:44 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Btd9qL68A
― flappy bird, Saturday, 24 March 2018 06:18 (six years ago) link
another new song, "driving": https://www.stereogum.com/1989713/grouper-driving/music/
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 3 April 2018 17:21 (six years ago) link
Thanks for that link @ufo
Thanksgiving Song is amazing.
― plazzTT, Friday, 20 April 2018 21:16 (six years ago) link
comparing track lengths on the Grid of Points iTunes page + the length of that live recording, Thanksgiving Song is likely half-mislabeled - the second half is a guitar arrangement of Holding from Ruins.
― flappy bird, Friday, 20 April 2018 23:03 (six years ago) link
also I can't believe this record comes out in a week. I keep forgetting about it.
― flappy bird, Friday, 20 April 2018 23:04 (six years ago) link
Today's resident advisor podcast is mixed by Grouper
https://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=621
― I am using your worlds, Monday, 23 April 2018 05:10 (six years ago) link
just put on her boiler room set
― flappy bird, Monday, 23 April 2018 05:12 (six years ago) link
Good timing thank you for the link
― flappy bird, Monday, 23 April 2018 05:13 (six years ago) link
She was also on NTS a couple of weeks ago
https://www.nts.live/shows/kranky/episodes/kranky-w-grouper-12th-april-2018
― toby, Monday, 23 April 2018 06:22 (six years ago) link
"Tae Keening" <3 <3 <3
― sleeve, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 00:51 (six years ago) link
really great mix, thank you
― sleeve, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 00:54 (six years ago) link
the new album is pleasant but very short - only 20 minutes. it's basically just Ruins 2 as expected. i hope she has more like Paradise Valley in the vault, Headache is the greatest
― ufo, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 03:06 (six years ago) link
'Grid of Points' vinyl alert! Don't know how many lp's are pressed but I'm guessing not a lot, going off her previous lp's.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 25 April 2018 11:22 (six years ago) link
first listen to GRID OF POINTS tonight from a soulseek leak. melodies seem neither here nor there, vague. midrange a little harsh at some points. the whole thing feels too brief to really settle into - not quite rushed, but not paced, either. i thought 'ruins' was grouper's best work, that record really stands alone for me -- the environment feels very immersive, like old erics trip records or something. whereas the piano is so animate and vocal on 'ruins', the recording of 'grid' just feels a little too distant, floaty, indefinite. the reverb almost feels like an obstruction at times. at any rate, i didn't want another 'ruins', and that it very much isn't. maybe it's a grower. standout track would have to be 'blouse'.
― meaulnes, Thursday, 26 April 2018 01:57 (six years ago) link
FTR, and contrarily: though i think that the hemming and hawing holds 'grid of points' back in places, i feel that ethereal, gossamer fragility/femininity is such a rare quality/sonic palette that very few contemporary artists exhibit. see also emily haines' two solo records for piano/vox. please more softness forever
― meaulnes, Thursday, 26 April 2018 02:07 (six years ago) link
Ruins really is such a stunning work. so OTM about how immersive it is, the quality of the recording and how the piano, her voice, and the environment sound. I know I complained a lot about familiar melodies in the promo songs upthread, but I was also immediately put off by the way everything sounded. Whatever, any new Grouper music is good. But right now, in a sleep deprived daze, about to go to bed, Ruins is the best thing in the world.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 26 April 2018 04:34 (six years ago) link
beep
lol
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 26 April 2018 04:39 (six years ago) link
it's ALL about the microwave
― startled macropod (MatthewK), Thursday, 26 April 2018 07:49 (six years ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/features/profile/groupers-liz-harris-explains-the-art-of-the-paradox-and-the-beauty-of-mistakes/
this is a great piece
interesting (but not surprising) that she has so many unrecorded songs and that she's learning lap-steel guitar
― ufo, Friday, 27 April 2018 06:59 (six years ago) link
so, about 5 minutes into my first listen, i realized that perhaps i should be playing it at 45 instead of 33! starting over at normal speed now. :D
i have to say...i know the slowed-down thing is kind of gimmicky, but seriously - i was enjoying the slower, pitched-down version! knife-like vocals
― Karl Malone, Friday, 27 April 2018 17:18 (six years ago) link
there's no sort of indication on the record or sleeve that it should be played at 45, so i'm guessing a lot of people are having a similar experience right around now
― Karl Malone, Friday, 27 April 2018 17:19 (six years ago) link
playing it at 33 makes it a 28-minute album
i will need to give this more listens. at it's proper speed, it's 21 minutes and it does fly by rather quickly. 'birthday song' stuck out on first listen.
― Karl Malone, Friday, 27 April 2018 17:49 (six years ago) link