US-born, Berlin-based experimentalist Wilted Woman has slowly carved out a space as one of the most intriguing figures in underground electronic music. Producing with a fundamental DIY attitude born of an immersion in the east-coast, U.S. punk scene, the alias of Elizabeth L Davis is known for her releases on imprints such as Alien Jams and Primitive Languages/Psychic Liberation, collaborations with Silvia Kastel, Nick Klein and Cristoph de Babalon and the long-running, ever-esoteric show Deep Puddle on Cashmere Radio.
As such, it’s a pleasure to welcome Wilted Woman back into the fold for her second release on Phantasy, out on streaming platforms on 20th May. Whereas 2019’s ‘Lon Lon Night Vision’ signalled dystopian rave deconstruction, remixed by Laurel Halo (a “haphazard techno wrecker for unleashing your inner crazy clown”, as Resident Advisor put it), ‘Glossy Center’ reveals two tracks that maintains that same bass weight, while blossoming into the sort of arrangements that would render cyborgs dewy-eyed with unprogrammed emotion. Meanwhile, a club interpretation from Kim Ann Foxman, a linchpin of club culture in both the US and Europe, is singularly weaponised to melt their synthetic brains.
Stream or download the digital here
To coincide with the release, Wilted Woman shares a psychedelic video visualiser for title track 'Glossy Center', created by Johann Kauth. Watch below.
On the title track, Wilted Woman’s spacious, analogue arrangement conjures a refreshing kind of machine-funk that flirts between the motorik grit of Detroit machinery and glistening kosmische with dreamy effect. In contrast, Kim Ann Foxman comfortably bursts a dam of serotonin for her take on ‘Glossy Center’, working in pure strains of trance and rave to deliriously enthusiastic effect.
Composed with equal sensitivity, ‘Close To Stone’ offers a chance to decompress, catching waves of spectral frequencies from Wilted Woman’s studio that seem to disintegrate leaving traces of bittersweet melody. Perhaps the most outright soothing track in Davis’ impressive back-catalogue, it underscores a thrilling return to Phantasy.