Emiliana Torrini – Fisherman’s Woman

Emiliana Torrini – Fisherman’s Woman / 2005 Rough Trade / 12 Tracks / http://www.emilianatorrini.com / http://www.roughtrade.com / Reviewed 03 May 2005

Torrini’s music has been present throughout my college career – I think it was my first year at DePauw when Torrini’s last album was put on rotation on the campus radio station. Everything about “ Fisherman’s Woman” is completely laid back, with the instrumentation on the disc such that Torrini’s disc has no competition for dominance. Everything is so tender with “Fisherman’s Woman”, as light tendrils of music draw themselves around the dusky vocals of Emiliana. The disc has a feel to it that extends the experience far beyond the forty minutes to time incalculable, with easy-listening, almost elevator music like tracks (“Next Time Around”) making the disc feel as if it is much longer. The disc may have a slightly hopeful sound outwardly, but the vocals of Torrini throughout the disc hide only slightly a certain type of longing that never truly disappears.

Much of the instrumentation on “Fisherman’s Woman” would be considered too Spartan to maintain interest in the disc, but Torrini’s sixties-influenced style of vocalization really only needs this smaller amount of help to make for a compelling track. However, there is a major stylistic shift on a track at a time when most individuals would begin to get weary of the same fare that has changed very little throughout the disc. This track, “Thinking Out Loud” showcases a certain blues influence to Torrini that is done extraordinarily well. The typical piano that would have backed eir up is largely gone during the track, replaced with a stringed instrument. The final track, “Serenade” uses a very dreamy, echoed-out style of vocals (echoed to the degree that it almost sounds as if a chorus is backing Torrini up) to close out the disc. The track uses the same light instrumentation that has been a hallmark of the tracks on “Fisherman’s Woman”, but increases the density of this instrumentation to make an enchanting, almost haunting track.

Torrini ends “Fisherman’s Woman” in a much different place than ey started out nearly forty minutes ago. However, if one just listens to “Nothing Brings Me Down” and “Serenade”, there is very little different aurally between the two tracks. A different facet of Torrini’s soul is showcased in each of the tracks, and it is this infusion of eir soul that really delineates eir from songwriters like Sarah Brindell and Leah Zicari. A different style of indie-rock than either Ani or Tori, Emiliana refreshes with eir brand of music.

Top Tracks: Serenade, Honeymoon Child

Rating: 6.0/10