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CRITIC REVIEWS
90
Adrianne Lenker’s songs seem to effortlessly flow out of her, suggesting even better things are yet to come.
12mo
90
If anything, this feels more like a companion piece, a window into that cabin rather than its own separate record. If you wish you had been there, this is the best way to feel like you were.
12mo
90
Instrumentals ... makes for good company, reminiscent of that friend playing across the room from you, complete with clinking frets and audible smiles.
12mo
90
As with ambient music, it’s easy to undersell the difficulty of constructing a piece of the music which is tranquil, rather than simply dull.
11mo
88
They are not showy pieces, but the depth of her relationship with her instrument is clear.
12mo
85
It seems unlikely that writing and recording songs and instrumentals allowed Lenker to fully heal her heart, but in among its living, breathing atmosphere are signs of new life and new hope.
11mo
80
Soothing balms following the drama of Songs.
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1y
80
On instrumentals, Lenker settles down from songs' busier thoughts, indulging in the stoicism within to achieve moments of serenity, if only briefly.
12mo
80
What Lenker’s most recent work reveals is that, like the rest of us, she is trying to find beauty and appreciation in the small moments, marvelling at her surroundings while mourning the current moment.
12mo
80
The companion album instrumentals consists of two extended tracks. The first, for indigo, is a scrapbook of strums and chords that Lenker can use as a sampler to construct fuller songs in the future.
12mo
80
A looser, less magnified affair, consisting of collages of the exploratory, freeform acoustic guitar improvisations that each day of the recording sessions would begin with. They showcase a different side to her creative process, but it’s undoubtedly on Songs where the emotional impact is located.
11mo
80
The corresponding second album, Instrumentals, is even more enthralling. Instead of getting swept up by Lenker’s visceral songwriting, she showcases patience and intuition.
11mo
80
The best moments on 'Songs' feel like realisations occurring in real time, but 'Instrumentals' is all about the process of seeking things out.
11mo
80
It’s a fresh take on the Big Thief singer’s fascination with the harmony of music and environment, and a deep breath after the trauma and devastation of songs.
11mo
70
The instrumentals may offer ambient comfort for late, late nights or the sequestered.
12mo
60
Instrumentals is a collage of unhulled, wood-smoked acoustic guitar improvisations.
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1y
‘instrumentals’ is challenging. a two song album in and of itself is bold; then, Adrianne and Phil make the whole album instrumental, which is risky. it bodes well.
i figured out why pitchfork grouped 'instrumentals' and 'songs' together, and why Adrianne released them at the same time. aside from thematic reasoning, the sudden cut off of “my angel” leads directly to “music for indigo”; the loud sound which ends the audio on 'songs' also begins audio on ... read more
i figured out why pitchfork grouped 'instrumentals' and 'songs' together, and why Adrianne released them at the same time. aside from thematic reasoning, the sudden cut off of “my angel” leads directly to “music for indigo”; the loud sound which ends the audio on 'songs' also begins audio on ... read more
Really did myself dirty by not listening to this sooner after personally being underwhelmed with the first of this double album series, Adrianne Lenker brings together an amazingly calming collage of ambient folk on instrumentals that feels as natural as the passing of the seasons, everything on this album comes together so smoothly and flows so peacefully like a river through an autumn forest.
Favorites: mostly chimes, music for indigo
Least Favorite: N/A
Favorites: mostly chimes, music for indigo
Least Favorite: N/A
Two long relaxing instrumentals, perhaps a comedown from the emotional weight of "Songs". In a way it reminds me of some of the more delicate post rock attempts from the early 2000's (Mogwai specifically, who I've been listening to lately, or maybe even Bardo Pond). Truth is, I don't know that I'll put this on much in the future though.
Gonna score that other album separately.
Gonna score that other album separately.
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Track List
- music for indigo
- mostly chimes
Year End Lists
| #2 | / | The New Yorker: Amanda Petrusich |
| #2 | / | Vulture |
| #3 | / | Our Culture |
| #4 | / | Magnet |
| #4 | / | No Ripcord |
| #5 | / | Spectrum Culture |
| #7 | / | Gothamist |
| #11 | / | Beats Per Minute |
| #11 | / | BrooklynVegan |
| #11 | / | Esquire (UK) |
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Added on: September 2, 2020