Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
Grouper · 2008
45 min · 12 tracks · ambient music
Ethereal soundscapes intertwine with haunting vocals, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that blurs the lines between reality and imagination.
Top tracks — play these first
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Heavy Water / I'd Rather Be Sleeping — This track epitomizes Grouper's ethereal sound, combining layered vocals with minimal instrumentation to evoke feelings of introspection and tranquility.
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I'm Dragging a Dead Deer up a Hill — The title track serves as a thematic centerpiece, encapsulating the album's exploration of burdensome emotions through delicate melodies and haunting lyrics.
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Fishing Bird (Empty Gutted in the Evening Breeze) — This song showcases Grouper's unique ability to create vivid imagery through sound, blending environmental sounds with soft vocals to craft an immersive experience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's ethereal soundscapes and layered vocals create a cohesive and immersive listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features long, ambient tracks that often blend ethereal soundscapes with layered vocals, creating a dense atmospheric texture.
- The sequencing includes gradual transitions between tracks, with some pieces fading into one another, enhancing the immersive quality of the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dreamlike introspection in solitude
- gentle pacing for reflective moments
- ethereal soundscapes for deep listening
- haunting melodies for emotional release
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat and energetic tracks
- prefer concise, standalone songs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- At the time of its release in 2008, Grouper was still establishing her identity as an avant-garde artist. This album came shortly after her debut 'Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill' and marked her first major recognition in the ambient music scene, showcasing her distinctive approach to songwriting and production.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Julianna Barwick· FKA twigs· Mount Eerie
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Disengaged 4:16
- 2 Heavy Water / I'd Rather Be Sleeping 2:53
- 3 Stuck 5:59
- 4 When We Fall 2:07
- 5 Traveling Through a Sea 4:23
- 6 Fishing Bird (Empty Gutted in the Evening Breeze) 3:51
- 7 Invisible 3:55
- 8 I'm Dragging a Dead Deer up a Hill 2:21
- 9 A Cover Over 2:48
- 10 Wind and Snow 4:30
- 11 Tidal Wave 5:35
- 12 We've All Gone to Sleep 3:03
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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