River Water

The Age

Friday March 14, 2008

Dan Rule

River Water

Aaron Martin (Preservation/Inertia)

4.5/5

Aaron Martin is a rare find - classically trained, yet utterly individual in his creative vision. Hailing from Topeka, Kansas, the reclusive young musician released one of the most stunning debuts of 2007. With shampoo bottles, banjos, ukuleles, cellos, organs, talking toys and a loop pedal, Almond is Martin's whimsical and artefact-ridden vision of the Midwest. Extraordinary second release River Water, however, has Martin turning the gaze back on himself. Increasingly spare and stark in terms of instrumentation and motif, River Water echoes with a kind of raw psychological and emotive undercurrent only partly explored in the anecdotal leanings of its predecessor. The effect, played out through austere cello arrangements (Tire Swing), spindly mandolin, banjo and ukulele (Alison), and muffled clusters of chimes, field recordings and vocal (Trees Are Smoke), proves confronting, evocative and nothing short of harrowing. This album won't be an easy listen; it won't make you dance or grin. What it will do is subtly and slowly draw you in. And once it has you in its embrace, River Water will move you as so few records dare. -- DAN RULE

© 2008 The Age

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