Heidi Harris – Cut The Line

Pressed on 140g standard weight black vinyl in recycled cardboard jackets, with full color printed front/back artwork…

“The most piercing element of Cut the Line is its use of repetition. As the title indicates, Harris’s fourth full length presents the process of separation. This presentation is deliberately calculated and refined: Harris’s goal while writing was to “create songs that covered as many different perspectives as [she] could imagine.” Whether it is lyrically, such as the playful vocals in “Oh My,” or instrumental, such as the dynamic riff in “Maple,” perspective is accomplished through repetition. In both cases, the consistent repetition and intentionally subtle variations lend an encompassing ambience to beautifully unembellished tracks.

Harris intended to build on the loose “in the moment” style of recording she had done in the past with this release. There are certainly still moments of lively and disorienting experimentation, but the music never seems out of reach. “Carved In” contains a very pop influenced vocal melody that eventually gives way to a free flowing, liberated harp section – an instrument in which Harris experimented with here for the first time. Overall, Cut the Line is grounded in amicably layered vocals and very fitting minimalistic production. Harris also called on a variety of artists to fill out the album, including Teletextile and Inner Ocean’s own Cory Zaradur, Porya Hatami, Sima Kim and Joaquín Mendoza Sebastián. Cut the Line is an accomplished and thoroughly structured album that still manages to capture the energizing feel of a relaxed impromptu performance.”