I Am the River, the River Is Me
Jen Cloher has never shied away from probing lyrical examinations, delving into the loss of their parents and the final days of a romantic partnership on previous records. Cloher’s fifth album explores their Māori ancestry, right down to the cover photo depicting the songwriter in the Aotearoa river in which many generations of women in their family have bathed and swum. That sense of history pervades these songs, some even incorporating lyrics sung in te reo Māori: Opener “Mana Takatāpui” was inspired by Cloher learning the Māori word for “queer,” while the Theia co-write “He Toka-Tu-Moana” is delivered entirely in language. As with the Melbourne-based artist’s past work, there’s a consistent fearlessness to the subject matter, whether Cloher is questioning the potency of a protest song or lamenting climate change and stolen land. Musically, the album slips naturally between robust indie rock and unadorned folk, with a surprising foray into R&B-style swagger on the downright sultry “My Witch.” As ever, Cloher’s razor-sharp articulation makes sure that no lyric goes unappreciated.
I Am The River, The River Is Me, Cloher’s fifth album, is verdant and rich; it luxuriates in stillness, and carries itself with cool, unfussy confidence. It suggests that home is not found in a place or a politic, but in the community you keep: Inspired by Cloher’s powerful matrilineal line of wāhine Māori, I Am The River, The River Is Me is not urgent, or hurried, but it is vital, made with the care and ease of someone who knows that their past began before birth, and will continue long after they’re gone.