Balmorhea - balmorhea (2007)

If the duo falls into the hi-fi and opulence on their second album, their debut is exquisite, intimate and lo-fi. Perfect acoustic instrumental music closer to early Owen stuff than to your average acoustic post-rock or indietronica offerings. But at the same time, it never breaks new ground, never as moving as Owen or early Album Leaf stuff, or less introspective and deep than Bexar Bexar. It is very pleasant but there is no lasting impression.

Balmorhea - river arms (2008, Western Vinyl)

Taking their name from a Texan oasis and state park, Balmorhea is a duo from Austin. Rob Lowe and Michael Muller, the main artisans, are working in collaboration with two cellist, one violinist and a bassist on their second album, “River Arms”.

I like this album like I enjoy early records by Rachels or Aerial M, Roger Eno's solo discography and Bexar Bexar. Sometimes beautiful, “River Arms” is also often somewhat inoffensive. They use the “acoustic” and “classical” labels for their music, also with the word “experimental”' I would instead replace with a better adapted “post-rock” tag.