Ranaldo and Refree previously collaborated on Ranaldo's solo album, Electric Trim (Mute, 2017), and shortly thereafter the duo returned to the studio to record "Names Of North End Women", which Ranaldo describes as "the beginning of a partnership, a whole new setup." For one of the greatest guitarists of all time according to Rolling Stone (Ranaldo founded Sonic Youth in 1981) and an artist who reinvents traditional flamenco guitar (Refree's album with Rosalia continues to grow internationally), it's an album that ultimately contains very little, if any, guitar. Instead, the duo composed using marimba and vibraphone, samplers, and a vintage Studer recorder. "This album challenges preconceptions about what a song is, and Raül and I are excited to see how far we can push the concept," says Ranaldo. For now, let's take the time to absorb Names Of North End Women, its hidden treasures and unexpected turns.