Gossamer

Evan Reiner, operating as Gossamer from his base in Los Angeles, crafts detailed atmospheric electronica intertwined with experimental hip-hop elements, incorporating spectral vocal fragments alongside meticulously captured environmental noises and live instrumentation. Aligning with the aesthetic of West Coast collectives such as WeDidIt and Brainfeeder, his productions lean into disjointed, low-end dominant slow-tempo rhythms, though he sometimes ventures into quicker abstract dancefloor fare or pure atmospheric pieces. Following a pair of initial extended plays issued during 2012, his first album-length effort Automaton emerged three years afterward. An ambient tape named Imperishable came next in 2018. Raised in Los Angeles amid influences from hardcore, metal scenes alongside New York hip-hop, Reiner took up jazz guitar during his adolescent years. Enrollment at the renowned Berklee School of Music in Boston led him toward electronic forms, prompting the collection and digital manipulation of sonic material. His inaugural release, a concise four-track EP under the Gossamer moniker characterized by hazy downtempo rhythms, came out in 2012 on the Melt imprint. The ensuing year saw the appearance of the 12-inch "Chaino"/"Ab-Mass" on Jass, tilting more toward house and including a Time Wharp rework. With that out, Reiner commenced work on his debut LP, journeying nationwide and to Japan seeking distinctive audio sources. Automaton finally appeared in 2015 through Innovative Leisure, the same home as like-minded artist Nosaj Thing. Sound gathering from distant locales persisted, culminating in the 2018 ambient release Imperishable, which included production contributions from Sonny DiPerri.