Already Drowning

Lyricist: Aidan Baker.
Personnel: Aidan Baker (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, flute, trombone, piano, drums, drum machine).
Recording information: Broken Spine Studios, Berlin (2009-2011); Commonwealth Studios, Toronto (2009-2011).
Photographer: Aidan Baker.
Canadian ambient/experimental composer Aidan Baker made his name on his unique tonal guitar explorations, merging dark emotional territory with achingly beautiful compositional elements. Already Drowning departs somewhat from his more textural work, presenting instead seven songs of more structured post-rock, each with a different guest vocalist. Themes taken from various folklore run throughout the album, with an emphasis placed on female water spirits. This nymph-ish thread works well with the darkly dreamlike songs, in particular the harrowing title track and the drifty spoken parts of "30 Days/30 Nights" featuring Jessica Bailiff. ~ Fred Thomas