I attended Grouper’s performance in Montreal on Thursday, and let me tell you….
I was utterly swept away. It was an intimate, quiet experience that makes you reevaluate your life during the entire set. Sitting at a workstation, Liz Harris is able to transport you to another level by simply using her electric guitar, her haunting murmuring voice, effect pedals, field recordings, loops and magnetic Lo fi sounds aided by mesmerizing visuals. Her compositions are seamlessly connected into one another. After an hour+, the music stops abruptly and you’re pushed out of your dream-like state. You then simply thank her for resetting your body and mind by applauding her absolute genius. This was not a rock concert, it was a cleansing, meditative journey …that I will never forget.
This tour is not meant to promote a specific album and obviously, this what not the kind of event where you can get your phone out and start taking pictures or record footage. It would have been completely out of place. Almost disrespectful, as it disrupts the state she’s bringing you in. You simply take your seat and enjoy the voyage.
Liz Harris as Grouper has an extensive discography and multiple collaborations under her belt. All is of exceptional quality and extremely rewarding. This particular album reflects her artistry, but the uninitiated can randomly pick any of her recordings and acknowledge her brilliance.
Photo and review by Richard – Speaker at The Record Club
