Kuruvungna

Idyllwild

REW<< is the solo moniker of Ryan E. Weber. He originally hails from the snowy western shores of Lake Michigan, but these days can occasionally be found roaming subterranean tunnels under the American Capital. REW<< has itself been the vehicle for a number of styles and sounds, with visions experimental and ambitious. His first full length, Departeures, recorded in a series of hotel rooms and train cars across much of Africa and Asia, offered a subtropical and reflective slice of dream pop, while 2015’s Olive Skinned, Silver Tongued Sirens Sing Swan Songs pushed into neo-classical territory. Still, the latter employed pop sensibilities to counter the classical vibe, making for a record that blurred the distinction between avant garde experimentalism and accessible pop. Newer works demonstrate another direction for REW<<'s sound, with Weber shedding the pop aspects in favour of a pure neo-classical aesthetic. Centring the piano as the driving force and dropping much of the dressing in favour of stark emotion.