Fisherman's Woman

Emiliana Torrini's second album, FISHERMAN'S WOMAN, arrived just in time for the full flowering of the mid-2000s psych-folk revival (Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, et al), but it clearly stands apart from the pack. Entirely devoid of the self-conscious quirkiness of so many of her contemporaries, she's closer in spirit to the likes of Sandy Denny and Nick Drake. Her hushed, fragile vocal style is intimate and entrancing without ever sounding affected or precious. Subtle support from some empathetic musicians keeps the focus squarely on Torrini's ethereal voice and on the hypnotic acoustic-guitar patterns around which most of the tunes revolve. Torrini's lyrics are alternately confessional/emotional and allusive/cryptic, but the honesty of her delivery makes every song come across with an equally visceral impact.