Search - Mirah :: Advisory Committee

You search all day for just one taste of the cold cold water

Mike K. | Massachusetts, USA | 03/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I knew I had to get this when I first heard opening track "Cold Cold Water" as the first track on a mixtape. With it's immaculately detailed almost ennio morricone-sounding epic orchestral backing mixed with Mirah's own confident but fragile and low-key vocal style, it brings to mind a much-less-pretentious Bjork (no offense, I like Bjork...). I was initially dissapointed that the rest of the album is much more minimalist, mostly alternating between simple folk-ish acoustic guitar numbers and almost synth-pop-like keyboard and drum machine pieces, but ultimately the album is still appealing thanks to unusual instrumental touches (the violins and pump organs that give "light the match" an exotic gypsy-folk feel, the steel drums in the title track), and most of all Mirah's sensual lyrics, gorgeous melodies and warm singing."

Clear expression, beautiful delivery

S. M. Cowan | 05/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mirah tugs at the listener's heartstrings. At first, her voice sounds like one belonging to a young girl, but then she dives deeper and shows you, without trying, how devastating she can be.
Perfectly placed loud crashes in the title track balance well with lighter melodies such as "Recommendation."
"Cold cold water," "After you left" and "Monument" are so well-written that it's easy to feel Mirah's heartbreak even if you've never felt your own. Sometimes she's almost whispering on "Body below" but it sounds like she's right in your ear, so it's a lovely experience.
Absolutely the best album I've heard in years."

Strange

Hallie | 01/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mirah's music is almost like a genre unto itself which is why she's so unconventional and unknown to most everyone. At the same time, no two song sounds the same, which means that the listener could adore one track and abhor the next. When first listening to the tracks, it's hard not to think "this music is... strange."



Mirah's voice is incredibly simple-- it sounds like a person singing lightly to herself under the assumption that no one else is listening. Her voice has almost a sweet, breathy naivete about it. Very rarely does she sing with different emotion, but when she does she's fabulous: In "The Garden," Mirah's agony is incredibly convincing. I would've liked to hear more songs with the same longing sadness.



On the complete contrast, I can't count the number of instruments used throughout the songs because there are so many. Sometimes the instruments would make a dark, heavy feel to it through strong percussion and minor chords from a choral sound (Her first track and possibly the best, "Cold, Cold Water" is a good example). Other times, the feel would be like a street beat based on the clever use of synthesizers like on the track "Recommendation." On some songs, Mirah's vocal sweetness is highlighted by tracks where a guitar is the only instrument used. One of my biggest complaints with her album is the reliance of technological sounds-- "Body Below"'s first 1:15 is nothing but a monotoned heavy sound with no drive or direction.



Mirah's album is a worthy gift to someone with tastes akin to "Neutral Milk Hotel," "Great Lake Swimmers," and "Anja Garbarek." Indeed, this is one of those albums that makes a nice addition for anyone who prides themself on having good music that no one's ever heard of. If you're one of these people then buy this to add to your reputation as the person with great taste (albeit a little strange) in unknown artists."