The spectrally out-of-time singing of Josephine Foster has never sound more at home than when they’re accompanied by the gently nimble Spanish guitar playing of her frequent collaborator, composer Víctor Herrero. On the stripped down Adormidera, Foster pays homage to her friend and musical companion by performing a selection of his own songs, while supported only by his delicate fingerpicking.

Foster, a Colorado native and former opera student-turned-eclectic folk experimentalist, has made a name for herself by weaving her graceful, emotive voice through a vast variety of unique styles and mediums over the years. From the feral psychedelic folk rock of 2004’s All The Leaves are Gone to the abstract guitar classical reimaginings of 2005’s A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, to the surreally mystic-Americana folk rock epic that is 2012’s Blood Rushing, Foster has been a singular artist that transcends time, bends the very notion of ‘genre,’ and always fashions something beautiful from roughly-hewn sonic ingredients.

On Adormidera, Foster’s cooing, lark-like mezzo-soprano vocals haunt, soar and sooth elegantly, bringing a rich, almost sacred beauty to Herrero’s already sleekly poignant melodies. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the sheer emotion that Foster displays through the subtlety of her operatic vocal performance communicates everything you need to know.

Songs like “Avellaneda” drift and whisper like an arid lullaby, with hints of an aching wistfulness quivering within Foster’s vocals. The minimalist quality of these recordings allow for, and even emphasize the true heart of these compositions, as well as the warmth shared between these two artistic collaborators and friends. Being just guitar and voice with a light amount of room reverb, this is a deeply intimate recording that demands your close, quiet attention.

Put this record on for a reserved night at home, preferably when the moon is out, the wine is poured, and you’re outside taking it all in.

You can get your copy of Adormidera from Eiderdown Records on vinyl, CD or digital today. – KH

Eiderdown Records has been knocking it out with stellar release after stellar release lately. I’d also strongly recommend checking out the eerie hauntaulogy ambience of Domenica Diavoleria’s Flicker Statue Eyes, the longform distorted drones of Grub, by Water Shrew Trio, the atmospheric ambient guitar dreamscape that is Western Mind, by Josh Martin and the hallucinatory experimental jazz freakouts of Albumen’s self-titled record from October.

Please don’t forget that TOMORROW is our next co-produced show with Prototype 237, with Emily Robb, The Early, Bent Light (Michael Slyne), Amanmademadman and Big Acid. Please grab yourself a ticket here and come hand with us!