A 22-song collection combining their out-of-print debut and a 7" EP, Empress revels in the leisurely unfolding dynamics of slowcore with this self-titled set. Comprised of three members of
Boyracer, the band shows themselves entirely up to the task of setting a somber and soothing temper with a collection of guitars, pianos, and drums, with Nicola Petty's wispy vocals sitting on top. And while the set runs a bit long, with little variation breaking up the singularity of the vision, certain moments (for example, "All We've Seen," which uses a rainfall sample for a rhythm track) border on transcendent. Still, even though this should remain a fairly comprehensive primer for their music, one could find more interesting slowcore bands than Empress. ~ Matt Fink