Karen Gwyer “Missisissipippi”

20 Feb 2014 — Evelyn Malinowski

Snarly, lonesome, and bulging: those are some words that describe Karen Gwyer's new EP New Roof. With "Missisissipippi," lonesomeness, with some amount of resentment, is the more suitable quality of the EP's three tracks. This of course an impression made by the down-octave synth; but the fanning on top of it during the track's last quarter in particular conveys some kind of malcontent. As the track starts, the sound of artificial wind lain on top of tethered drone and later a slow beat – the one that ties interestingly into the prime beat – likewise gives off an impression of isolation, where only the wind can be heard apart from a burning feeling from inside. Makes me think that she composed the song during the heat of the summer in a shack on the edge of the city, which clearly isn't the case. With these observations aside, Gwyer's sound is agreeably unqiue among releases today, and it's laudable to see how much can be done within her domain/room as it both sounds and is in fact meandering and spacious. 

New Roof is freshly available on No Pain in Pop. You can order it here.