A Fragile Geography (10th Anniversary) [LP]

Rafael Anton Irisarri - A Fragile Geography (10th Anniversary) [LP]

Rafael Anton Irisarri's landmark work reimagined. Marking the tenth anniversary of the American composer's critically acclaimed album A Fragile Geography, this new edition arrives renewed, both sonically and visually. First released in 2015 during a period of personal upheaval and creative reinvention, it endures as a testament to resilience, transformation, and the connection we hold with the places that shape us. Written in the aftermath of a devastating theft, A Fragile Geography was born out of loss. Just days before a cross-country move to New York, Irisarri's entire Seattle-based studio was wiped out. Instruments. Recordings. Archives. Gone without a trace. He arrived on the East Coast to an empty room and the daunting task of starting over. Composed and recorded in the rural woods of the Hudson Valley, the album took shape in seclusion, surrounded by nature, and through a process guided by improvisation. Embracing limitations, Irisarri wove textural layers of field recordings with half-remembered melodies from his Seattle years, piecing them together like fragments of memory. Among its defining sounds is "Empire Systems," a monumental centerpiece built around a simple four-chord progression, organ textures, and guitar drones. Gradually, the track expands into layers of immersive loops and thick, enveloping distortion that wash over the listener like a rolling wave. More than a career highlight, A Fragile Geography has laid the foundation for Black Knoll studio, which Irisarri rebuilt from the ground up. The studio has since grown into a creative hub for countless projects, with Irisarri engineering records for iconic music figures like Terry Riley, Ryuichi Sakamoto, William Basinski, MONO, Devendra Banhart, Grouper, Emeralds, Steve Hauschildt, Julianna Barwick, and many others. Mastered by Stephan Mathieu with exceptional attention to detail, this anniversary edition uncovers every nuance in the sound design, enhancing clarity and presence. With each listen, new elements emerge, inviting discovery and reconnection. 01. Displacement (2025 Remaster) (4:11)_x000D_ 02. Reprisal (2025 Remaster) (9:36)_x000D_ 03. Empire Systems (2025 Remaster) (8:45)_x000D_ 04. Hiatus (2025 Remaster) (3:48)_x000D_ 05. Persistence (2025 Remaster) (7:00)_x000D_ 06. Secretly Wishing For Rain (2025 Remaster) (7:24)