Wrekmeister Harmonies : Flowers in the Spring
For Wrekmeister Harmonies’ new album Flowers in the Spring, JR Robinson and Esther Shaw sought to create a deeply meditative experience. The band adopt a more contemplative sensibility here, and among their drone and noise, the group seems to ask: What do you notice? What do you feel?
Robinson’s first release as Wrekmeister Harmonies was in 2009—Recordings
Made in Public Spaces, Volume 1—and Shaw became a permeant part of the project with 2014’s Then It All Came Down. Since then, the duo has continued to push the limits of their brand of experimental music. Encompassing elements of metal, drone, post-rock, and noise, Wrekmeister Harmonies’ material is far from conventional, and it stands as some of the most thought-provoking and technically adept music being created today.
In a press release for Flowers in the Spring, Robinson says, “it’s the subtle movements within and without, the fine threads of sound, loud or quiet, interior or exterior that become valuable.” Drone music can offer a wide spectrum of emotional atmosphere, and for this record—comprising four tracks—Wrekmeister Harmonies pursue various modes of emotionally rich presentation. The use of drone from one piece to the next rarely sounds the same in succession, Robinson’s guitar performances and use of noise effects bringing in levels of technical nuance to each.
The title opener begins with a strum of guitar distortion that, over 10 minutes, unfurls with alteration in pitch and tone. Under that distortion is a playful-sounding noise effect that flutters, the two sounds creating a compelling contrast of high and low that’s hypnotic. Following this, the instrumental presence of “Fuck the Pigs” shifts into eerier territory, the droning coming across like a wind blowing through the trees on a pitch-black winter night. Between the minimalist drone and guitar strums, the track evinces an unsettling presence, facilitating a feeling of being alone.
The 20-minute “A Shepherd Stares into the Sun” carries a warm distortion that sounds lovely. The melody coming from the synth feels refreshing, even welcoming following the starkness of “Fuck the Pigs.” Concluding the record is “Flowers Variation,” which combines the droning qualities heard on the first two tracks. Noise roams forth as pockets of distortion burst underneath, the rhythm growing more spellbinding by the minute.
Flowers in the Spring is a profound experience of spiritual depth. In its nearly one-hour runtime, Robinson and Shaw use their artistic prowess to craft mesmerizing compositions that unravel with technical nuances. The magic of Flowers in the Spring is not only in the grandiose drone that Wrekmesiter Harmonies explores, but also in hidden details underneath.
Label: Thrill Jockey
Year: 2025
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