“Sonder” by Rafael Anton Irisarri
The title of Rafael Anton Irisarri’s 2018 EP, Sirimiri, is the word for “drizzle” in the Basque language. Fittingly, the four songs here unfurl gently, like a light rain caught up in a cool autumn breeze. As Irisarri described it in this 2024 interview with CLOT Magazine:
Sirimiri has always resonated with me — not only is it typical in the Basque country, but also in Seattle, where I lived at a pivotal time in my life. This subtle but continuous drizzle is like the passage of time itself. In this EP, I embraced this idea, allowing compositions to unfold naturally and without abrupt transitions. In fact, this cassette plays continuously, having the same exact material on both sides; the idea is that when it ends on one side, it automatically starts again on the other side. Just as sirimiri gently floats in the air, the idea was to create a flow that felt seamless and immersive. It’s reflective of how I’ve thought about time, memory, and the passage of many fleeting moments throughout my adult life.
At just under 15 minutes, “Sonder” is the EP’s longest track. Which means that it has plenty of time in which to embody the sort of “seamless and immersive” flow that Irisarri described, courtesy of vast greyscale drones and shimmering textures reminiscent of the more melancholy moments on Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works Volume II, like “Stone in Focus.”
Earlier this week, Irisarri announced that Sirimiri — originally a cassette-only release — is getting a vinyl reissue courtesy of the Umor Rex label. From his announcement:
This release closes out the 20th anniversary celebrations of Umor Rex, the wonderful Mexico City-based record label that’s been releasing my music for well over a decade. Beyond our longstanding friendship, Daniel Castrejón has also been an integral part of Black Knoll, designing nearly everything we’ve released on the label. His impeccable taste, dedication, and commitment to independent music are things I’ve always admired.
The vinyl edition of Sirimiri is currently available and limited to just 150 copies.