The self-titled debut album from
Second Woman, the duo of Joshua Eustis (
Telefon Tel Aviv) and Turk Dietrich (
Belong), is an astonishing feat of intensive sound design. The duo constructs winding, ever-mutating rhythmic puzzles that often accelerate and decelerate tempos without warning. On many of the tracks, the rhythms seem hard to latch onto, but they are present, and they act as a human heartbeat underneath the layers of complicated machinery. The album begins with three of its most bracing, head-spinning tracks, but things get slightly smoothed out and dubbier after that. "500609sp3" is the album's centerpiece, and it's a relaxing piece of submerged, contemplative drifting and windswept delay. "700358bc5" is a return to
Autechre-like abrasiveness, with sputtering glitches masking a steadier beat flowing underneath. "800438ul8" is even more jittery, but at the same time it seems to slowly float slightly above the surface. The album isn't exactly filled with melodies, so listeners in search of more emotive music might be turned off by the album's abstract nature. For those who can't get enough of highly complex glitchery, however, this album is a nonstop thrill ride. Both Eustis and Dietrich have proven themselves time and time again to be inventive sonic architects, but they've outdone themselves with this brilliant album. ~ Paul Simpson