I Am the River, the River Is Me
Jen Cloher · 2023
41 min · 10 tracks · folk music
A delicate blend of introspective lyrics and rich acoustic textures, reflecting personal and communal narratives.
Top tracks — play these first
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Mana Takatāpui — This opening track sets a powerful tone for the album, merging traditional sounds with modern folk elements to celebrate queer identity within Indigenous culture.
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Protest Song — As a response to social justice issues, this track channels urgency and activism, showcasing Cloher's ability to intertwine personal narrative with broader political themes.
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I Am the River, the River Is Me — The title track encapsulates the album's thematic core, employing vivid imagery to illustrate the interconnectedness of self and nature while reflecting on ancestral ties.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends personal and communal narratives through its thoughtful composition and rich acoustic textures.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a soft, fingerpicked guitar that sets a reflective tone, which is maintained through the first half of the tracklist.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that create a sense of community and connection among the narratives presented.
- The tempo varies throughout, with some tracks adopting a slow, contemplative pace while others introduce more rhythmic elements, particularly in 'Protest Song'.
- The final track concludes with a gradual fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of introspection.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate storytelling through melody
- reflective moments of personal connection
- gentle pacing for quiet contemplation
- cultural narratives that resonate deeply
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2023, I Am the River, the River Is Me is Jen Cloher's fourth studio album, following the critically acclaimed Jen Cloher from 2017. This album marks a period of personal reflection and cultural engagement for Cloher, as she explores her Indigenous heritage and queer identity through her songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Courtney Barnett· Lucy Dacus· Julien Baker
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Being Human
The bridge shifts perspective to emphasize vulnerability, invoking a sense of shared humanity amidst life's complexities.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Mana Takatāpui 4:26
- 2 Harakeke 4:22
- 3 My Witch 2:45
- 4 Being Human 3:25
- 5 I Am the River, the River Is Me 5:41
- 6 Protest Song 5:29
- 7 The Wild 4:02
- 8 Aroha Mai, Aroha Atu 3:20
- 9 He Toka-Tu-Moana 2:24
- 10 I Am Coming Home 5:21
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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