One of the most prominent artists in the ambient and dream pop music scenes Liz Harris, better known as Grouper, has unveiled her new project Nivhek. Her first new album for the project entitled After its own death /Walking in a spiral towards the house has been released today off Yellow Electric.
According to Pitchfork, After its own death /Walking in a spiral towards the house “was created during and after residencies in the Azores, Portugal and Murmansk, Russia,” while also featuring work Harris made at her home studio in Astoria, Oregon.
This current project is released as a double album, similar to the release of her 2011 work AIA/ Alien Observer, which were also split into two separate albums. This entire project is split into four tracks, with many going longer than typical Grouper tracks, which hardly exceed the six minute mark. The shortest track on the album “Walking in a spiral toward the house Side C,” is eight minutes, and thirty seven seconds long.
Some features that were present on the artist’s 2018 Grouper album Grid of Points, such as successive vocal overlays and a minimalist sound are heavily featured on the project. A dark glaring synth line is also present on the opening track, contributing to the albums multiple tones. Grid of Point’s was named as one of mxdwn’s top albums of the year for 2018.
Grid of Points stands as one of Harris’ most personal, minimalist and briefest work to date, clocking in barely over 22 minutes. Despite this, Harris explains that the album captured a specific moment and that she would like to separate herself somewhat from each of her works.
“I know that the fact I’m making it makes me inseparable from it,” she explained in an interview with Pitchfork last year. “But I want to be separated from it also. And it’s the nature of what’s in it: This music is about something so interior or raw. And then that makes you shyer about sharing it even though you’re making the choice to share it.”
Harris is set to perform at the inaugural 2019 Midwinter line-up, hosted by Pitchfork and The Art Institute of Chicago alongside Slowdive and Oneohtrix Point Never. This convert is set to double as an art gala, featuring ambient art work, alongside the music which will be performed.
“Midwinter is an ambitious new concept, and with it we’re intentionally trying to push the boundaries of live music. Placing forward-thinking musicians in the context of the Art Institute, we’re opening a dialogue between mediums, and creating a unique cultural event,” Pitchfork festival director Adam Krefman explained regarding the multi-day festival. “This February, you’ll be able to look at a Monet while listening to original music from Nico Muhly; Laurie Anderson will occupy the same space as Georgia O’Keeffe, while the glitch-rap of JPEGMAFIA is playing in another wing of the museum. I can’t think of another event quite like it and we are excited to bring it to life in Chicago.”
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