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New Buffalo |
| Somewhere, Anywhere |
| Arts & Crafts | 2007 | Album |
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Australian singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sally Seltmann records hazy melancholy music. It’s the soundtrack to dreams where lost loves and childhood romps through meadows fade in and out, offering equal amounts of heartache and happiness. The singer, who records under the moniker New Buffalo, is back with Somewhere, anywhere, her second disc to hit the U.S. and a follow up to her internationally acclaimed album The Last Beautiful Day. While that album may have been steeped in lushness, Seltmann takes a more stripped down approach to her music this time around. The songs for Somewhere, anywhere were written on a Thurmer piano that has been in Seltmann’s family for nearly 100 years and the long relationship between the player and her instrument shows. Though she also takes time to play guitar, bass, organ and a wooden flute, among other instruments, it’s the warm sounds that Seltmann coaxes from the piano’s keys that give her album personality, a special sort of pizzazz and a sweet simplicity.
Seltmann is also gifted with a light wispy voice, think a young Marianne Faithful or Joni Mitchell, and, she uses it to her advantage, turning simply from sadness to joy without ever coming off as precious or affected. The album’s opening track “Cheer Me Up Thank You” starts the album off on a genuine light-hearted note that stays pretty much intact throughout. Even some of more serious songs like the steeped-in-longing track, “I’m the Drunk and You’re the Star” avoid the usual “woe is me” pratfalls by staying warm and relatable.
Sally Seltmann may sing in a cloudy day vein from time to time but songs like the giddy with glee track “It’s Got to be Jean” seem to indicate that her skies are mostly blue. “I’m loving this feeling,” sings Seltmann in a voice that sounds like she’s ready to shout it from the mountain tops. Backed by warm jazz stylings, she croons about “watching the clouds” in a lazy day way that will have you running for the nearest park to do some sky- gazing of your own. |
| Amy Wagner |
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