While a lot of singers are painful exhibionists, Rivulets daydreamer Nathan Amundson appears to be singing just for himself. In a room lit by candlelight, maybe a straw of incense around, alone with his guitar. It?s the feeling you get from ?You Are My Home?. Loneliness, warmth and a sense of longing, hence the albumtitle.

Amundson?s chief inspiration seems to be Nick Drake, his vocal style as soothing and modest, like he?d never want his voice to leave his bedroom. That?s only the voice though and during ?Can?t I Wonder? when the musical climax enters, you start to wonder wether he?s a more ambitious man than one might think.

While this new album is released on the impressive Important label, the first two Rivulets albums were put out on Low?s Chairkicker Union label, the music borrowing a lot of Low?s slowpaced intensity. The album?s titletrack and the following ?Heartless? explore similar haunted vibes, Amundson?s vocals achieving a Low-like pastoral feel. Clearly Low?s influence still lingers in the background.

With the assistance of Jessica Bailiff, cellist Fred Lonberg, whose mesmerising playing regularly pushes ?You Are My Home? into deep melancholic trenches, Amundson is able to create an impressive slab of haunted folkpop. Sometimes, that?s exactly what you need. 7/10 -- Joris Heemskerk (11 December, 2006)