Progress Parchment Review of Rivers Arms

Balmorhea - Rivers Arms
Western Vinyl Records
Release date: Feb 12, 2008
Out now on iTunes.

Sounds like: Philip Glass and Marcelo Zarvos birth a young brain child with Pullman and Eluvium.

As I sit here in my office and start to listen to “Rivers Arms”, the sophomore release from Balmorhea, I must say I am a bit apprehensive as I assume it cannot hold a candle to their first collection of instrumental recordings self titled “Balmorhea” (Bal-ma-ray is the name of a town in southwest Texas). Not to mention that it was a song from the first Balmorhea album that was playing when my wife recently gave birth to our son, and therefore I hold the tune dear.

Rest assured though because by the end of the third track I realize that my fear is unnecessary. The fullness, clarity, balance and warmth of the live sound on this Austin birthed album is brilliant indirectly compared to their first, which attractively I might add sounded more grassroots; somewhat of a bedroom recording.

As I listen intently it is raining outside and a blanket of grey timidly holds the sky suspended. Fitting that I can hear the patter outside my window as there are segments on the intro where rain suitably accompanies this generously beautiful, simple, landscaped album. “Rivers Arms” progresses as Rob Lowe and Michael Muller form the foundation trading instruments throughout. The bountiful and flowing single played piano keys are mostly tapped out by Rob while Michael guides the solid and clean strings of the acoustic guitar. The accompaniment of graceful and long pulled cello by Erin Lance and violin by Aisha Burns are tastefully woven throughout.

Something of these songs arouse remembrances and bring pictures to mind of things past and strangely somehow also of the future…of a place I have yet to visit or a destination that I cannot yet define or know but still holds some sort of indescribable familiarity. If anything this is an album to drive home to. A collection of gentle, kind, almost serene instrumental songs to accompany your heart as you meander through the facets of this life. To quote Bukowski, “Life is profound in its simplicity.” This is definitely a simple and profound album and with their organic, passion driven musical creations Balmorhea will hold steady and true to the next.