Description
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Liz Harris (aka Grouper) and Jefre Cantu-Ledesma have united once again on a profoundly melancholic new album that pays tribute to their late friend Paul Clipson. The release, titled “Daughter,” serves as a poignant memorialization of Clipson, capturing the ambiance of their last performance together at the 2016 Marfa Myths festival in Texas. Although the material was initially shelved, they revisited and reshaped it following Clipson’s tragic passing in 2018.
“Daughter” showcases a masterful fusion of human and environmental elements intertwined with haunting piano melodies and elongated guitar soundscapes. By blending tape hiss, distant whispers, and the faint whirr of an 8mm film projector, Harris and Cantu-Ledesma achieve an almost spiritual aura within their compositions. The mournful notes of the piano in ‘Revolving Door’ ring out like distant church bells, while the crunching of footsteps against gravel evokes an immersive experience. The sudden intrusion of birdsong on ‘Daughter’ feels like an ascent, and ‘Lullaby’ transports listeners to a distant memory, merging a music box with the nostalgic tape hiss of a dictaphone. All these elements converge in the mesmerizing 20-minute final track, ‘Passage,’ where piano, swirling grains, and weightless hum create a frozen meditation.
The album serves as a fitting tribute to Paul Clipson, commemorating the profound impact he had as a collaborator with Harris and Cantu-Ledesma. While inherently somber, moments of radiant joy peek through, symbolizing the light that Clipson brought into their lives and the lives of many others. “Daughter” is a testament to the enduring legacy of these creative relationships and a reminder of the bittersweet nature of loss and remembrance. Fans of Harris, Cantu-Ledesma, and similar artists will find solace and reflection within the ethereal depths of this beautifully melancholic album.
