Water To Drink

Over four albums to date, Victoria Williams has established herself as a rising cult star.

On Water To Drink, the Louisianan singer-songwriter’s mellifluous vocals and natty down-at-home vignettes weave an idiosyncratic spell that is at once atmospheric and understated. ‘Joy Of Love’ and ‘Grandma’s Hat Pin’ resonate with slow grace, while the title track swings elegantly through bossa nova-style rhythms.

Vocally, Williams bears more of a resemblance to Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous than to her female singer-songwriter contemporaries. Unfortunately, while Williams’ tremulous tones contrast nicely with the richness supplied by her backing band, they rarely catch fire against it. Covers like ‘Young At Heart’ and ‘Until The Real Thing Comes Along’ excepted, the melodies are frequently patterned around the same meandering pitch and pace, with the result that any real momentum or spark is swallowed up in gentle dreaminess.

The lyrics work best at their most wry. "Pick up the rusty nail from the ground/ While you’re down there/ Tie your shoes/ Big old man/ He got plenty to do", she sings with acerbic relish on ‘Joy Of Love’.

When Williams grows over-archingly meaningful, as on ‘Little Bird’ "Little Bird flies off to the log house school/ Now the children play/ Hold each other’s hand in single file/ How they laugh/ How they tease/ Oh Little Bird he sees", the roominess in her voice just about makes up for the moralistic tinge.

Restlessly evocative.