Karina Esp
Detachment
Karina ESP has been releasing select CDRs, cassettes, 10"es and other modern record formats since 1998 already, which gathered founder Chris Gowers quite a cult status within the ambient scene. He creates Warm and dark drones, mostly guitarbased but his vague melodies and select use of other instruments creates a unique environmental atmosphere. Gowers is also founder of the labels Evelyn Records and Trome Records, a member of Signals and Rome Pays Off (both with Mark Beazley of Rothko) and a frequent collaborator with the likes of Isnaj Dui, Circle Bros and Caught In The Wake forever. It's fair to say that despite his long history and reputation, Karina ESP hasn't been the most productive act around. Gowers started working on this record a few years ago, but things did not fall into the right place. Until late 2011, returning from a short Benelux-tour. Gowers travelled to Scotland, where Fraser McGowan of Caught in the Wake Forever and Small Town Boredom managed to record the album in a matter of days. And that's what Detachment sounds like: thinking and doubting about something for a long time, and then letting it all out at the same time, telling what needs to be told, not holding back any details, but telling it clear enough so the point stays clear. Limited to 150 copies.