saw her play in a church and man it was like no other show I've ever attended, magical
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 31 October 2014 23:51 (nine years ago) link
this is in an abbey! so excited.
― sleeve, Friday, 31 October 2014 23:53 (nine years ago) link
Yeah there was a Swedish American Hall show in SF I saw as part of the On Land festivals that was BEYOND great. Catching her live is special.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 31 October 2014 23:56 (nine years ago) link
after a few listens, I'm on the hook now. 'Lighthouse' is beautiful.
― $0.00 Butter sauce only. No marinara. (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, October 28, 2014 3:34 PM (4 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yeah, for sure - the albums (this new one especially) sneaks up on you.
― RAP GAME SHANI DAVIS (Raymond Cummings), Sunday, 2 November 2014 02:16 (nine years ago) link
jesus christ i just found this song from 2008...another treasure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgSTG6z-KtE
― ET sippin the wig (spazzmatazz), Friday, 7 November 2014 13:43 (nine years ago) link
show was amazing, natch. killer version of "Clearing" from Ruins, also I think the last one off the new one as well? something long and drawn-out at the end.
I love how invisible she is, in her black stocking cap, crosslegged on the floor, you could barely see her but the sound was huge and the whole wall behind her was covered with video projection.
― sleeve, Sunday, 9 November 2014 03:11 (nine years ago) link
also, I cannot believe how great the full length version of "Sleep" is, I had only heard the LP-side excerpt
― sleeve, Sunday, 9 November 2014 03:13 (nine years ago) link
what was the rest of the setlist like?
― ET sippin the wig (spazzmatazz), Sunday, 9 November 2014 07:01 (nine years ago) link
no idea but I loved it. looked like she switched from a small keyboard to guitar and back a couple of times? hard to see.
― sleeve, Monday, 10 November 2014 02:41 (nine years ago) link
to be a bit more clear, there were a lot of effects and nothing sounded much like the piano tracks on Ruins, in fact I could swear that she played "Clearing" on guitar
― sleeve, Monday, 10 November 2014 02:42 (nine years ago) link
got the new record in the mail today, and have been listening tonight! wow it is different. I like it! and I liked the effect of the thunderstorm CD behind the album so much I am playing it over some other records too. right now roy montgomery's scenes from the south island.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 14 November 2014 05:11 (nine years ago) link
oh that's so lovely; it hadn't occurred to me it was intended as a pairing. just out of curiosity, is that inferred anywhere or are you just freestyling?
― schlump, Friday, 14 November 2014 05:29 (nine years ago) link
when I ordered it I said I was super-excited about the thunderstorm field recording CD and ms. harris suggested the idea!
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 14 November 2014 05:48 (nine years ago) link
so neat!& thanks for passing that on.
― schlump, Friday, 14 November 2014 06:55 (nine years ago) link
Grouper announced a short European tour! http://www.factmag.com/2014/12/16/grouper-european-tour/
― maarten, Tuesday, 16 December 2014 13:38 (nine years ago) link
http://www.splicetoday.com/music/grouper-artist-of-the-decade
"Grouper music is something that is tapped into, not created. Harris’ gift in capturing the in-between states of our natural cycle is what puts her in rarefied air—it goes far beyond the relatively simple joys of being in love with a band, song or an artist’s persona. Grouper music is like peeking into the afterlife, or a parallel spiritual world that only affects us subliminally. The subliminal force of Grouper music has me convinced that Harris is merely a conduit for the voice of the universe; that the sound coming out of her pedals and tapes and guitars and keyboards is only passing through like the wind, waiting for her touch."
― ET sippin the wig (spazzmatazz), Tuesday, 16 December 2014 21:58 (nine years ago) link
wow, simultaneously hyperbolic and condescending
maybe... she's just a good songwriter?
― some kind of terrible IDM with guitars (sleeve), Tuesday, 16 December 2014 22:37 (nine years ago) link
yeah would not be flattered to be called a conduit.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 04:36 (nine years ago) link
Yeah but could be for worse things than the voice of the universe.
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 25 December 2014 04:31 (nine years ago) link
This remains the worst titled thread
― ♪♫_\o/_♫♪ (Karl Malone), Thursday, 25 December 2014 04:53 (nine years ago) link
Heavy Water sounds like Benoit Pioulard
― calstars, Sunday, 22 February 2015 17:09 (nine years ago) link
― some kind of terrible IDM with guitars (sleeve), Tuesday, December 16, 2014 4:37 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I'm fairly sure that this is Spazz's way of saying she's a great songwriter.
― RAP GAME SHANI DAVIS (Raymond Cummings), Sunday, 22 February 2015 17:16 (nine years ago) link
i need to listen to the new benoit pioulard - didn't he go full on ambient/instrumental with the new one? BP was always really frustrating for me. i have a couple of his records (the Precis and Temper collected 2LP thing that Kranky put out a while back), and saw him play once with Windy & Carl (some of the audience actually fell asleep!), but somehow it always felt like things never completely came together in his recorded output. his music is almost singularly in between spaces for me, and although i love the idea of that, in practice i end up turning the stereo and off and sitting in silence.
― Karl Malone, Sunday, 22 February 2015 17:39 (nine years ago) link
None of BP's albums are dramatically different from each other, but for the record Lasted is the best iteration of his sound. So if you like what he does generally speaking but feel like his records haven't clicked, that might be the one to try.
The new one is full ambient, apparently, but it's not out yet. Comes out in March I think.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Sunday, 22 February 2015 21:30 (nine years ago) link
i finally dug into ruins and it leveled me. "clearing" is a tidal force. that song will be with me for the rest of my life.
also recently discovered julie byrne's 2014 album "rooms with walls and windows" which i would strongly recommend to grouper fans. it's a bit less, idk, spectral compared to grouper, but i've been really enjoying it. it puts me in an headspace that's adjacent to what harris' stuff does for me.
― Clay, Monday, 27 April 2015 05:46 (nine years ago) link
yeah that julie byrne album is great, you might want to check out Broken Twin's May as well
― moans and feedback (Dinsdale), Monday, 27 April 2015 06:21 (nine years ago) link
YES
http://pitchfork.com/news/60270-groupers-liz-harris-announces-debut-album-from-dream-pop-band-helen-shares-motorcycle/
A couple years ago, Grouper's Liz Harris released one single by her dream-pop band, Helen. The band, also featuring Jed Bindeman (of Eternal Tapestry) and Scott Simmons (and someone named Helen credited with "back up vocals"), have now announced their debut album. The Original Faces is out September 4 via Kranky. Listen to "Motorcycle" above.01 Ryder02 Motorcycle03 Covered in Shade04 Felt This Way05 Pass Me By06 Right Outcome07 Allison08 Dying All the Time09 Grace10 City Breathing11 Violet12 The Original Faces
01 Ryder02 Motorcycle03 Covered in Shade04 Felt This Way05 Pass Me By06 Right Outcome07 Allison08 Dying All the Time09 Grace10 City Breathing11 Violet12 The Original Faces
i'm at work so haven't had the chance to listen to the new song. but man, i really REALLY loved that little 7 inch they put out a couple years ago. can't wait to hear the full length
― 1992 ball boy (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 13:56 (eight years ago) link
ohhhhhhhh swooooooooooooooooooooon!
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 14:30 (eight years ago) link
this sounds great!w/ organ & tangled guitar grouper dna not so present in the first two songs.hey maybe we get to go see helen shows
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 14:36 (eight years ago) link
http://cdn3.pitchfork.com/news/60270/8700513c.jpg
best band foto
― feargal czukay (NickB), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 14:40 (eight years ago) link
awesome, that track sounds like an early sarah records 7"
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 15:39 (eight years ago) link
Love it!!!!
― Evan, Tuesday, 7 July 2015 16:54 (eight years ago) link
YES! "Dying All the Time" was fantastico.
― List of people who are ready for woe and how we know this (seandalai), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 19:24 (eight years ago) link
another song is streaming!
http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/jump-into-the-gently-swaying-noise-of-violet-by-helen-143
plus it's not available for pre-order at http://www.kranky.net/
― 1993 ball boy (Karl Malone), Thursday, 13 August 2015 19:39 (eight years ago) link
I think you meant "now"
― Evan, Thursday, 13 August 2015 19:43 (eight years ago) link
mistakes were made, the zs story
― 1993 ball boy (Karl Malone), Thursday, 13 August 2015 19:46 (eight years ago) link
this is so good
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Thursday, 13 August 2015 20:54 (eight years ago) link
ty karl, this is hardchoral
― tender is the late-night daypart (schlump), Thursday, 13 August 2015 20:55 (eight years ago) link
Enjoying the lost classic from ~1990 vibe of the Helen record. Could imagine discovering it via a Forced Exposure review that references Kendra Smith and Crystalized Movements.
― feargal czukay (NickB), Friday, 4 September 2015 08:02 (eight years ago) link
Happier times when i was lonely, scared and miserable in my bedroom.
― feargal czukay (NickB), Friday, 4 September 2015 08:05 (eight years ago) link
just discovering pale saints
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 4 September 2015 17:37 (eight years ago) link
The Helen album sounds very 90s liberal arts college band-y. Not a bad thing.
― calstars, Sunday, 6 September 2015 02:15 (eight years ago) link
I don't like how her vox are drenched in so much reverb. It's not like she has a bad voice...I understand it's the aesthetic but...
― calstars, Sunday, 6 September 2015 02:16 (eight years ago) link
Drummer demonstrates that perpetual behind the beat, just learned to play a month ago vibe
― calstars, Sunday, 6 September 2015 02:27 (eight years ago) link
Bad Calstars Posts Copyright 2015
― crime breeze (schlump), Monday, 7 September 2015 01:11 (eight years ago) link
this is so greatthe grouperness of it is so satisfying, & then there's this whole other dimension to the really pop pop songslike allison is like early best coasti remember reading grouper & tiny vipers talking about the mirroring record & how they spent forever choosing song titles& this is in that same lyrical zone sometimeslike i am walking around thinking city breathing
― crime breeze (schlump), Monday, 7 September 2015 01:14 (eight years ago) link
i still haven't heard it! i got a download link via twitter dm but couldn't get it to work without malware. i'm going to go old school and buy a physical copy though, so it will work out. can't wait.
― 1995 ball boy (Karl Malone), Monday, 7 September 2015 03:32 (eight years ago) link
get the malware version
― crime breeze (schlump), Monday, 7 September 2015 03:53 (eight years ago) link
ltd ed DELUXE malware version ft KoolSearch Browser Toolbar
― crime breeze (schlump), Monday, 7 September 2015 03:54 (eight years ago) link
Dear recipient,Avangar Technologies announces THE ORIGINAL FACES, the beginning of a new unprecendented global employment campaign. reviser yeller winers butchery twentiesDue to company's exploding growth HELEN is expanding AVAILABLE business to the European region. During last employment campaign over 1500 people worldwide took part in Avangar's businessand more than half of them are currently employed by the company. And NOW we are offering youone more opportunity to earn DIGITAL MONEY working with Avangar Technologies.druggists blame ANALOG classy gentry Aladdin MONEY
― 1995 ball boy (Karl Malone), Monday, 7 September 2015 04:25 (eight years ago) link