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Track Listings
| 1. San Solomon |
| 2. Lament |
| 3. The Summer |
| 4. The Winter |
| 5. Greyish Tapering Ash |
| 6. Baleen Morning |
| 7. Barefoot Pilgrims |
| 8. Context |
| 9. Process |
| 10. Divisadero |
| 11. Limmat |
| 12. Theme No. 1 |
| 13. Windansea |
| 14. San Solomon (Reprise) |
Product Description
CD Description
Limited edition of 500 with hand-screened gatefold jackets and 4 bonus tracks. Balmorhea s previous albums have received praise from publications including Pitchfork, Mojo, Drowned in Sound, NPR, and many more. In 2008 we had the honor of releasing our fi¬rst Balmorhea record Rivers Arms. Though the band s sound and size has grown, the soulful collection of songs on Rivers Arms continues to resonate with listeners. From the contented isolation of "The Winter" to the hazy heat and hopeful longing of "San Solomon," their music captures the indescribable feelings of living and growing in Texas. Now, 4 years later, we re excited to make this limited edition vinyl version of Rivers Arms available with 4 bonus tracks and updated artwork. Still wearing their bathing suits, Rob Lowe and Michael Muller recorded the fi¬rst two bonus tracks as children jumped and splashed in San Solomon Springs (Balmorhea State Park) in the background. These two sunny guitar pieces are followed by a powerful live version of Theme recorded in Vienna, Austria. The ¬nal track is a version of San Solomon featuring live drums, recorded in 2008 for their very limited tour E.P. This special version of Rivers Arms, limited to 500 copies in hand-screened gatefold jackets, features a modi¬cation of Ann Lowe s original linoleum print by Public School s Matthew Genitempo. // "Balmorhea ashes brilliance only to highlight a slow-burning constancy that's at the core of one of the year's early slow wonders." Pitchfork //
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Once in a while, I take a chance on an album I know literally nothing about other than that a couple of people on internet forums really like and enthuse about it. That was the basis on which I bought this album and I'm glad to say that it was a gamble well worth taking. 'Rivers Arms' is, without doubt, one of the most remarkable and individual albums I have heard this year and I have cause to thank those who recommended it as Balmorhea (pronounced Bal-moor-ay) are a real find.
Completely without vocals, Balmorhea's second album (the first one was self-released) is almost a soundtrack recording of laid back, drifting folk resplendent with strings, pianos, banjos and real beauty. It is a recording without pretension - you can hear chairs creaking, some minor background noises and the sound of faraway voices, but it only adds to the ambiance and overall appeal of the recording. Although from Austin, Texas, Balmorhea have created something which evokes images of a more formidable landscape, of mountains, surging rivers, snow, ice, nature on a grand scale. It is an album which you can listen to, close your eyes, and let it take you anywhere your mind wants to go, a collection of tracks with which you can paint a blank canvas using the colours of music and emotion.
The album, as a complete piece, is simply wonderful, however, I will select a few highlights. 'Lament' has a delicate, cascading piano line, like a trickle of water which gains volume and momentum, turning a stream into a mighty river. 'The Winter', with echoing guitar, bowed cello and atmospheric piano is so achingly beautiful and powerful, it makes the heart swell with each arpeggio.... Read more ›
Completely without vocals, Balmorhea's second album (the first one was self-released) is almost a soundtrack recording of laid back, drifting folk resplendent with strings, pianos, banjos and real beauty. It is a recording without pretension - you can hear chairs creaking, some minor background noises and the sound of faraway voices, but it only adds to the ambiance and overall appeal of the recording. Although from Austin, Texas, Balmorhea have created something which evokes images of a more formidable landscape, of mountains, surging rivers, snow, ice, nature on a grand scale. It is an album which you can listen to, close your eyes, and let it take you anywhere your mind wants to go, a collection of tracks with which you can paint a blank canvas using the colours of music and emotion.
The album, as a complete piece, is simply wonderful, however, I will select a few highlights. 'Lament' has a delicate, cascading piano line, like a trickle of water which gains volume and momentum, turning a stream into a mighty river. 'The Winter', with echoing guitar, bowed cello and atmospheric piano is so achingly beautiful and powerful, it makes the heart swell with each arpeggio.... Read more ›
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Micky67
Format:Audio CD
Just occasionally it can be refreshing to take a step back from the world of instant messaging, chemically enhanced food and mass marketing. There is a certain solace to be found away from your television, your stereo or, dare I say it, your laptop. This belief brings me concisely to the music of Texan duo of Rob Lowe and Michael Muller, otherwise known as Balmorhea. Eschewing electrically enhanced equipment completely in favour of percussive and string instruments, Balmorhea engage in folk, classical and ambient styles to present fourteen moments of pure heartfelt emotion that have the ability to take the listener far away from their everyday life.
While the name appears to have a Scottish resonance to it, Balmorhea (pronounced Bal-ma-ray) takes its inspiration from a small Texan town where Lowe spent many a happy summer, during his childhood. It is Balmorhea's ability to tap into such nostalgic memories that gives many of their compositions an edge over their contemporaries. "Lament", a soft descending piano piece radiates with a forlorn melancholia as a microphone (perhaps unintentionally) picks up almost every sound within the recording studio. The sorrowful strings help to elevate the impression of forgotten memories. "Barefoot Pilgrims" follows suit, the tentative piano arrangement plays over a foundation of softly plucked acoustic guitar, as a violin seems determined to assume the foreground while hinting at loss and regret.
In a recent interview Lowe discussed the influence of the varying seasons on Balmorhea's music and this has transcended onto "River Arms". A song with a title such as "The Summer" may evoke images of blistering heat, glorious sunshine and crystal blue skies, but Muller and Lowe approach this from a different angle.... Read more ›
While the name appears to have a Scottish resonance to it, Balmorhea (pronounced Bal-ma-ray) takes its inspiration from a small Texan town where Lowe spent many a happy summer, during his childhood. It is Balmorhea's ability to tap into such nostalgic memories that gives many of their compositions an edge over their contemporaries. "Lament", a soft descending piano piece radiates with a forlorn melancholia as a microphone (perhaps unintentionally) picks up almost every sound within the recording studio. The sorrowful strings help to elevate the impression of forgotten memories. "Barefoot Pilgrims" follows suit, the tentative piano arrangement plays over a foundation of softly plucked acoustic guitar, as a violin seems determined to assume the foreground while hinting at loss and regret.
In a recent interview Lowe discussed the influence of the varying seasons on Balmorhea's music and this has transcended onto "River Arms". A song with a title such as "The Summer" may evoke images of blistering heat, glorious sunshine and crystal blue skies, but Muller and Lowe approach this from a different angle.... Read more ›
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Headphone Commute Review
17 Mar 2008
By Headphone Commute
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Balmorhea (pronounced bal-mor-ay) is a duo from Texas, Rob Lowe and Michael Muller, creating simple and enchanting music with ambient spaces, relaxing places, acoustic guitar, and a piano. For their second album they have expanded the group to a quartet, adding a cello and a violin. The style floats among folk, modern classical, and acoustic ambient. The production incorporates sensitive microphones recording live instrumentation, and the effect is immediate - the barely audible rustling and shuffling sounds teleport the listener into the studio, placing the ear near the frets, the keys and the bow. Unlike the duo's first self titled album, Rivers Arms is more mature in quality of production, and the vastness of field recordings used to offset intertwining melodies with a string accompaniment. It is especially a great headphone treat, as the sound is crystal clear and perfectly balanced within the stereo field. I recommend to grab their two albums together and play alongside Library Tapes, Eluvium and Goldmund. Favorite tracks: The Winter and Barefoot Pilgrims.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
16 Oct 2009
By Matthew J. Warren
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Love listening to this while walking to school during the winter. This is the type of music that makes you forget about all your worries in the world. If you like this you'll love "Soundtrack to a Vacant Life" by The Flashbulb.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty Pretty music
7 Mar 2008
By Amanda
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
the strings, simple surreal vocals, wonderful listening experience. truly.... a more acoustic, stripped down AIR and a more vamped up (ish) sigor ros. thanks for the music
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
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