This meeting of two everyman singer/songwriters captures the individualsound of each perfectly, and reveals just as many intricacies as itdoes similarities between the two. First up is Nathan Amundson'sRivulets, who honestly could drunkly wail into a garbage can and set itto a drum machine and I'd still give it a listen. The songs includedhere have never been released elsewhere in this format, though fans ofthe last Rivulets record will recognize "Cutter II" as a slightrestating of the track from that record with more guests. There's alsoa "Cutter III," a remix by Aarktica, and both succeed in re-generatingthe eerie feeling I had when I first heard the original, as well asimprove on the piece in their own way. His other three songs are gemsall their own, from the delicate beauty of "Keep You From Harm" and thesweet wished in "Happy New Year." "Wind is Howling," however, bringsout what I love best about this band, with a chillingly simple guitarand violin line that succeed in making the hairs on my neck rise.Amundson is a soul at war with his dark and light sides, and thestruggle continues to be produce fantastic songs. Marc Gartman, on theother hand, is a talent I am not all that familiar with, and listeningto his contribution made me regret this deeply. Gartman is asoft-spoken man with a voice not all that different from Amundson, withjust a bit more James Taylor, and with a talent for playing just aboutany instrument around. I've heard him on other records — Low, Rivulets,Pale Horse and Rider — but never playing and singing his own songs, andit is there that he truly shines. His songs here are piano-based, andGartman has a very easygoing flow and amble on top of the music, alwayswith his heart on his sleeve. He sings about mistakes, about regrets,about the past and the future, about love, and about Mom and herinfluence on his life. Even though it seems somber at first glance,there is an overriding hope and desire to get out of this mess thathighlights every song. The one instrumental, "Roswell," is a gentlestride, with a very simple repeated melody that doesn't stray far, butit's my favorite track on the CD because of that. It doesn't try to bemore than it is, and I think that is the perfect way to describe bothmen. Simplicity is best, and through it Gartman and Amundson continueto make music that always excels.- Rivulets - Happy New Year
- Rivulets - Wind is Howling
- Marc Gartman - Luf Kanh Brhak Ur Hrt
- Marc Gartman - Grave Mistake
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