Ten years ago when this album 'Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill' by Grouper came out, My Bloody Valentine was an early reference for me. But looking back, it's a bit silly. The real charm of this album, like most Grouper works, is in Liz Harris' songwriting. She uses reverb and tape hiss as an artistic choice, yet her songs are equally alluring without it. The record starts with white noise to refresh your ears. Then Liz's ghostly vocals and overdriven guitar strums wash over you. Over 11 tracks, she offers stirring hymns in a sea of acoustic guitar, with each track flowing smoothly into the next in a soft, dreamy atmosphere. It's like a shy forest creature coming to play beautiful alien songs by your campfire. Harris' later projects have tweaked the formula, adding and subtracting layers. But 'Dragging' is the most sublime. Songs like 'Fishing Bird (Empty Gutted In The Evening Breeze)', 'Heavy Water / I'd Rather Be Sleeping', 'Invisible' and 'We've All Gone To Sleep' with different levels of saturation and echo make it an intoxicating listen. She still releases amazing records, but this one is the benchmark. This black vinyl pressing comes with a circular sticker drawn by Liz Harris and is from the Kranky label in 2013. Reviewed by Edward James almost in 05/2018.
To enjoy this Grouper vinyl LP, simply place it on your record player and let the music play. Make sure your record player is clean and in good condition for the best sound quality. When handling the vinyl, hold it by the edges to avoid fingerprints on the playing surface. After use, put it back in its sleeve carefully to protect it from dust and scratches. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. The circular sticker is a nice collectible, so you can keep it in a safe place or stick it on something you like. This album is great for relaxing, studying or just having a quiet moment to yourself. Enjoy the beautiful music!
