The second album by Root Strata co-owner Maxwell August Croy’s duo En (with James Devane) is a gorgeous work. The album conmbines acoutic string instruments (strummed guitar, violin, koto) with synthesizer and processing, and creates something experimental, yet warm and inviting. While abstract, the songs all seem guided and composed. For some reason I feel like this album is a little more accessible than most current drone music. There isn’t anything particularly poppy about it, and the songs get progressively longer, culminating in the sidelong “Elysia”. But somehow I feel like it’s pretty enough that people who aren’t normally into this sort of music will find it agreeable. The background clanging on “Marble Steppe” or the noisy finale of “Elysia” could probably prove me wrong, however. Regardless, an incredibly lovely album.
