Songs of Water

Instrumental collectives are nothing new, so when you come across a group like Songs of Water, you hope there will be something to set them apart. Sea shanties, perhaps? Even better. This eclectic instrumental ensemble from Greensboro dives into an ocean of exotic instruments and comes up with a truly vibrant and memorable record.

What immediately distinguishes this self-titled, self-released, full-length disc is the instrumentation. There are the usual guitars, occasional horns and strings, and even a few instruments you can't pronounce (doumbec, djembe, knaal). But the kicker is the use of hammered dulcimer, something you don't hear too often outside traditional folk groups and craft fairs.

Here it's employed to full effect. Far more demanding than its strummable mountain cousin, you might expect a timid phrase or two would be all most could muster, but instead it soars, gracefully darting in and out of the arrangements, deftly coloring the songs with swiftly moving lines and graceful melodies.

The group doesn't leave the traditional heritage of its influences entirely behind. The album is wholly acoustic, and numbers such as "When Leaves Are Green" and "Mufafa's Kitchen" immediately call to mind images of the Irish countryside and Middle Eastern vistas, respectively...

...Songs of Water crafts a record utterly beautiful and meticulously presented. The thoughtful listener won't be disappointed.

— Daniel McMillan

posted by Stephen at 1:27 PM

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