Matchess: Sonescent (digital, Drag City, February 2022)

Now this is something rather novel and entirely delightful. Whitney Johnson gives us two long tracks (eighteen minutes apiece). Although mostly strings, these take in drone, folk-ish fiddling (with the occasional digression into folk rock — a guitar and a flute sneak in at the end), and sawing classical minimalism, and are supplemented by other forms of drone, electronic and (barely-audibly) vocal. These elements weave in and out of each other in the most natural-sounding way. Where there is a melody, it often seems half-forgotten in the background. I suppose could call out references to Eliane Radigue, Steve Reich, Richard Skelton, and The Caretaker, if references are your bag. But there is a peculiar alchemy which seems all her own. By turns gentle and enveloping, this is one of those records that contains new surprises each time I listen to it. It’s utterly charming and I love it.

I bought this from Boomkat. They call it Electronic.