The VBC88.3FM, The High Seas and Room 40 present:
GROUPER (US) with PUMICE and GLASS VAULTS
PRESALES $15 from UTR.CO.NZ
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Liz Harris' GROUPER evokes the ghosts of songs, using minor-key, folk-derived melodies swathed in sheets of delay to carry her fragile vocals. Over albums such as Wide (2006) and Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill (2008), Harris has expanded upon her deceptively simple form, moving from all encompassing ambiance, cocooned in oceans of reverb, to a more stark, yet no less absorbing form, vulnerable imagery emerging from the music like half-remembered dreams. Harris has collaborated with Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Ben Chasny of Six Organs Of Admittance and released a split LP with NZ guitar luminary Roy Montgomery. Having already brought her arresting and beautiful show to NZ in 2009, Grouper's return is a welcome chance for those who missed out first time around to see Harris' aching and moving music in the flesh. Auckland's Stefan Neville a.k.a. PUMICE is in no need of an introduction for discerning NZ listeners. A ramshackle one-man band, playing guitar, vocals, tape loops and drums simultaneously, he bridges the void between all-out improvisation and tightly executed song craft. It's noise, it's lo-fi, it's drone, it's pop - often all at once - Pumice defies all expectations with his live show. Neville's discography is beyond extensive, having been consistently pumping out releases since 1994, on all formats across a myriad of labels, as well as performing with bands like the Coolies, Sunken and Wendyhouse. To put it bluntly: Pumice is not to be missed!
Wellington's GLASS VAULTS is the project of Richard Larsen and Rowan Pierce. Taking their cues from good old fashioned pop song writing via ambient experimentation, the duo have already chalked up support slots with the likes of Xiu Xiu, and have released a debut EP that has attracted praise from all across the blogosphere. Pegged as "ones to watch", Glass Vaults' atmospheric and entrancing music is no doubt headed for bigger spaces, so make sure you see them in the intimate surrounds of Happy before it's too late!
