Chicago-area improviser Reid Karris returns with this EP-length release consisting of two tracks, both exactly 10:02 minutes long. The sound palette includes electric guitar, percussion (largely cymbals), loops, and effects.
It is “ambient” in a sense, as the pieces are slow-moving and quiet. Karris plays the cymbals and other percussion freely, without any sense of a rhythm or beat. Instead, they accentuate his guitar work, which consists of twisted notes, feedback, and aleatorical sounds. Having seen videos of Karris playing in this manner, it would not be surprising if the guitar was tuned or otherwise prepared in unusual ways and he used a variety of implements to scrape, rub, and strike its strings and body.
As suggested by its title, Reflections of a City in Water is about reflections – mirror images actually. Thus, the two tracks have a special relationship with one another. This is best left in Karris’ words:
The album consists of two tracks, each taking direction from the same score but in opposite directions. These two tracks were then blended together, one forwards and one backwards for each side, to create the two finished halves and resulting in sounds occurring in opposite directions but also together. In short, one grouping of sounds moves forwards while its reflected image moves backwards.
This produces music that seems to have no beginning or end. A section of each piece being backward results in both having a lilting, psychedelic effect. This can explain why music with so much going on can lull you into relaxation at various points.
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