Salt River

His debut for Rough Trade Records imprint River Lea Recordings, Salt River finds avant-folk doyen Sam Amidon drawing on an eclectic variety of sources -- eclectic even for him -- for a set of covers that continues to cultivate his uniquely spectral yet soil-bound sound. It was produced by prior collaborator Sam Gendel, who also performs on the album, most notably on "Friends and Neighbors." An interpretation of the 1970 Ornette Coleman song, its background conversation and dining clatter set a communal scene behind a repeated acoustic guitar riff, hand drums, and Amidon at first fishing for how to proceed. He and his accompanists soon lock in, with Gendel delivering an extended sarune bolon (folk oboe) solo well across the midpoint of the six-minute improvisation; it ends in a group singalong. Another 20th century entry here is the instrumental "Oldenfjord" (originally by Irish flute and tin whistle specialist Grey Larsen), and Amidon draws from the 2000s for a minimalist jazz-folk take on Lou Reeds fuzzy rocker "Big Sky" and perhaps Salt Rivers biggest surprise, Yoko Onos "Ask the Elephant" (2009), which Amidon transforms with a melancholy fireside rendering. He seamlessly blends these into the track list with older Irish and shape-note tunes as well as centuries-old folk, as on "Tavern," which incorporates the traditional American fiddle tune "Salt River" -- but with a tinny synth vibe underscoring its fiddle and mouth harp. The tracks symphonic second act features Gendel again, this time on saxophone. Amidon may have outdone himself when it comes to Salt Rivers ability to be at once trippy, bucolic, sophisticated, and simple, like a dream about a folksong. There is no better example of this than the over-seven-minute centerpiece, "Golden Willow Tree," Amidons part-electronic version of an Appalachian ballad that dates back to the 17th century ("There was a little ship/And she sailed on the sea…"). ~ Marcy Donelson

米ヴァーモント州のシンガー・ソングライターによる新作はラフ・トレードのフォーク系レーベルからリリース。自身が馴染みのある10曲をカヴァーではなく再解釈/再生した作品ということで、伝統的なフォークやルー・リードやオノ・ヨーコらの曲をアミドン流に料理。なかでもオーネット・コールマン"Friends And Neighbors"のプリミティヴな解釈が最高に心地いい。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二