Sounds of Mother Nature

Sarah Louise is an American alternative/folk musician who has continuously transgressed musical boundaries. Nighttime Birds and Morning Stars is her latest self-engineered record where she fearlessly uses effects and her electric guitar to craft psychedelic Appalachian folk and contemporary inspired songs. She beautifully explores a world of nature wherein the sounds of healing and feminine spirituality come to life.

The album opens with “Daybreak.” This track is an atmospheric introduction infused with synthetic organs and nature ambiances. Her raspy and gentle voice smoothly slides amongst Bon Iver styled production, jumping in pitch along the detuned instrumental. Louise’s ability to capture the sounds of a sunny morning in the woods is remarkable.

“R Mountain” follows with peculiar tuned guitars building in intertwining patterns. Continuing this strange dream of a record is the album-defining track “Ancient Intelligence.” This song is like a trip down the wrong rabbit hole. Asian-like, scratchy strings coarsely begin until they are simplified down to multiple out of tune guitars. Unpredictably cinematic and beautiful, fragile yet strong, this song takes you to many different places.

Diving deeper into her world, “Rime” shows Louise’s unexpected and innovative style. It feels as if a realization is initiating. Perhaps Louise is reflecting on a self-healing experience that inspired this record. “Swarming at the Threshold” follows and brings back the detuned guitars full of reverb and different timbres. This is where the album can fall a bit repetitive given that very similar instruments are used in most of the tracks. Nonetheless, Louise maneuverers each instrument around the other, all staying intact and gently building from themselves.

“Late Night Healing Choir” is another powerful song on the album. Frail horns cry out as her voice absolutely enchants the listener. Her voice becomes more and more foreign as the track moves along. Her ability to warp the sounds she uses gives texture and depth to this song. Meanwhile, the vocal production she uses remains delicate with its hidden harmonies. “Chitin Flight” is more of an experimental track with its enticing psychedelic glitches and airy vocals. Though the melodic progressions can be hard to follow, a finger-picked guitar line keeps the beat going and helps leave breathing space to take in this hallucinatory trip through nature.

The final eight-minute song “Nighttime Birds and Morning Stars” is definitely a cinematic piece. Each note feeds into the next in a mystifying way. First numbing to the ear, then perking up in scratchy suspenseful tones, Louise brilliantly paints her magical North Carolina landscape through sound. Shiny fluctuating strings play out until they are marinated with individual fuzzy guitars. Louise returns her sound to the beginning of the album, beautifully fading out like it all never happened.

This album is an absolute gem. Breathtaking, healing and fragile, Sarah Louise puts her most impressive work forward. She managed to craft a truly immersive experience, really throwing her listeners into the earthy world she sonically creates. This is truly a listen well worth your time.