Grouper - Ruins (2014)

Liz Harris, aka Grouper, has announced a new album called Ruins. It'll be out on October 31 via Kranky, and follows last year's The Man Who Died in His Boat. She also shared a statement about the album, which she says was made mostly in 2011, except for one song recorded in 2004.

She wrote:

"Ruins was made in Aljezur, Portugal in 2011 on a residency set up by Galeria Zé dos Bois. I recorded everything there except the last song, which I did at mother's house in 2004. Iʼm still surprised by what I wound up with. It was the first time Iʼd sat still for a few years; processed a lot of political anger and emotional garbage. Recorded pretty simply, with a portable 4-track, Sony stereo mic and an upright piano. When I wasnʼt recording songs I was hiking several miles to the beach. The path wound through the ruins of several old estates and a small village.

The album is a document. A nod to that daily walk. Failed structures. Living in the remains of love. I left the songs the way they came (microwave beep from when power went out after a storm); I hope that the album bears some resemblance to the place that I was in."