EN

"City of Brides" is the third full-length album by En, the Bay Area-based duo of multi-instrumentalists Maxwell August Croy and James Devane. It was recorded over the last few years in a variety of contexts and follows upon 2012's well-received "Already Gone," further developing the diverse sonic palette of that record. Across four sides, the pair present exotic, transportive, and richly detailed pieces that toe the line between ecstatic longform ambience and elegant, structured electronic composition. As always with En's output, the koto is a focal point, its distinctive tone ringing out amidst the hazy guitar, vocal, and synthesis environments that surround it. The material on the record ranges from moody to celestial, from cool to white hot. Pieces such as "Blonde is Back" and "Mendocino Nature Rave" merge sizzling modular synth lacework with plaintive, familiar drone clouds to rapturous ends, while the two-part "Songs For Diminished Lovemaking" sequence charts a more minimal and nostalgic course. With "City of Brides," we're pleased to present En's most realized and defining statement to date, a welcome addition to the ever-expanding and fertile topography of American West Coast drone music. Artwork by Justin Almquist. (label info)