Deep Waters is a solo project of David Spalvieri-Kruse, of folk duo Cold Mountain Child. This Deep Waters LP feels a little bit closer to a folk-leaning version of How To Dress Well, constructing sparse, vaguely pop/R&B ballads out of spacey (and very synthetic-sounding) keyboard sounds and trembling vocals. Opening track “Season’s Fade” has a Phil Collins-ish drum machine plunking away in the background, but the rest use the minimally arranged keyboards, pianos and guitars to guide the sad, haunted vocals. The guitars are most effectively used in “Sun Sets Low”, which feels like the most natural result of his strange hybrid sound. It’s a sound that takes a few listens to get used to, but it’s a very personal sound, and at its best, it’s the type of gloomy introspective music that feels like the product of some intense soul-searching.
