Elysia Crampton - American Drift (2015)

"'American Drift' is the uniquely incisive and beguiling solo debut LP by Bolivian-American artist Elysia Crampton (f.k.a. E+E). It follows her 'Moth / Lake' 7" on Boomkat Editions to mark the 2nd issue in her ongoing Shenandoah series - "a concept study that follows Virginian American history, exploring brownness as more than culture or Othering, as geology. As mud, dirt and mineral, enmeshed in lithic, vast time scales." From this disanthropocentric perspective, inspired by the concepts of late queer theorist Jose E Muñoz, Elysia presents a tortuous deep topographical reading of the entwined narratives which underlie Pan-American history and culture. Also digging rich inspiration from Bolivian/ Peruvian psych and metal, American psychedelic folk, and Southern hip hop, the album soars between transevangeslistic prayer, 'American Drift', and the two-part, ten-minute 'Wing' - both featuring Money Allah - taking in the crunked cumbia enigma, 'Petrichrist' and expansive MIDI orchestration of 'Axacan' in its other-worldly embrace. Quite notably, it's mostly shy of the sample collages which defined E+E's early work; instead using original material in a manner which reaffirms and grounds Elysia's originality. It's highly RIYL Arca, T C F, Lotic, M.E.S.H."