Mirror Guide - Giant Claw (2021)

Maybe the oddest thing I’ve listened to so far this young year. It’s electronic in the sense that it’s synthesized and programmed, but it’s still very organic, with a lot of the sounds being samples of cello. You will not mistake this for a cellist playing a piece, especially when the programmed drums and other sound effects come in.

The tempo jerks around from slow and thoughtful to a claustrophobic rush, often on the same track. Wordless voices chime in on some tracks, piano and processed bells or xylophones in other places.

It’s whimsical and beautiful but also occasionally frightening. It’s been hard to write about because one piece melds into the next, and before I know it I’m three tracks further than I thought.

Whatever you want to call it, it’s delightful.

Tracks I liked:

realistically, all of it. but Earther and Disworld are particular ones I’ve gone back to several times.