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Levitate

J. L. Sievert | Nara, Japan | 05/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Superb title for this new album. I put it on and levitated from start to finish. Martin has been toiling for years now, probably mainly in obscurity. But I like how he keeps at it, reaching inward with fearless constancy. This of course is the artist's strange calling. No doubt a lonely path. But if it means anything, the music is not made in a void, or, I mean to say, it does not reach one. There are exquisite moments throughout this sublime recording that bear hearing time and again.If you don't know Idaho, you should probably start early with, say, "Year After Year" (1993) and work your way forward to "Levitate."This remarkable recording is a thing of raw beauty. Enshrine it in your collection and in your heart. If there is a god, God bless you, Jeff Martin."

Idaho's Best Effort To Date

gillettecourt | 11/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is easily the most cohesive package of songs Idaho/Jeff Martin has ever offered its/his listeners. The CD plays as one experience. To skip through the tracks would eliminate much of what this music is about. The title "Levitate" is perfect. Jeff Martin's BEAUTIFUL piano work, reminiscent of Brian Eno/Harold Budd collaborations, lifts you up into another world, full of endless beauty, yearning, passion, and sadness.
The first couple of tracks are your classic Idaho songs, at a bit of a faster tempo. From here on out, Martin whisks you away to a string of wispy piano ballads and instruments. Piano ballads are what he does best. Don't get me wrong, though. His four-string, slack-key guitar work is second-to-none, but when he sits down at the piano, he just tears your heart out.
Like normal, Martin plays every instrument himself, except drums on about half the tracks. The guest drummer here is a talented Idaho fan who sent Martin a demo tape of his playing. His steady, shuffling brush work is used to great effect. Basically, "Levitate" is what sadcore is all about. If you're already a fan of Idaho, don't hesitate to buy this. And if you're a fan of Mark Eitzel and the American Music Club, Mark Kozelek and the Red House Painters, or Low, this is definitely for you, too. This if painfully beautiful music."

Lo-fi beauty

J. L. Sievert | 03/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After following bands like Low, Bedhead and Yo La Tengo for years, I was delighted to discover Idaho's latest, "Levitate." Imagine if Lou Barlow was a little more consistent, and filled out his compositions without becoming commercial, and you've got a sense of this album. Jeff Martin has taken the lo-fi rock experience and given it just enough tempo to keep things interesting. It's like an album full of songs like Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia," but more personal, more intimate (and not written for soundtracks). I'm hooked."