EP Review: ‘Songs for Rivers’ by Rikki Will

4 stars out of 5

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The story of Rikki Will: About 15 years ago, she hung up her guitar and solo act, for there was life to attend to. Raising two darling daughters, working, creating whimsical visual art, loving, losing, loving again. But that guitar kept beckoning to her, and at last, Rikki heeded its call. That she’s returned with such an accomplished recording, Will’s debut EP Songs for Rivers, is a testament to her talent and hard-won maturity. But it’s also an unexpected gift to us fans of excellent singer/songwriter fare with stellar musical backing.

Rikki may have been helped a bit by her friend — turned partner — turned collaborator and producer/engineer/mixer Oscar Albis Rodriguez, a top-notch performer in his own right. But from first listen to the Songs for Rivers EP, one thing is abundantly clear: This is Rikki’s show.

Lead track “Gone” preceded the EP as a single. It’s a lazy-day country shuffle driven by Rodriguez’s twanging guitar and Rikki’s vocals, which shift from world-weary to heavenly. For steady bass and lovely backing vocals, you simply won’t find better than Annie Nero (The Hold Steady, Kevin Morby, Bob Weir, Walter Martin). Drummer Jesse Kristin of Jukebox the Ghost holds it all in place.

The hypnotic “Beautiful Face” rides Will’s precise picking and delicate folk vocal, punctuated by Rodriguez’s reverb-soaked country guitar. “Blindsided” is brighter musically, while lyrically focusing on love’s restorative power. Opening with a gentle strum and soft vocals, “Same as Always” feels like a lullaby until the band kicks in at the minute mark; it then rises up triumphantly.

Songs for Rivers is a country record; it’s a folk record. But, perhaps you’re wondering: Can Rikki rock? Oh yes, most certainly. The one song not written by Will herself is the closer, Wreckless Eric’s classic “Whole Wide World.” It’s all chugging electric guitar, bass, and martial drumming, topped by Ms. Will’s very sultry delivery — with some twinkly, wobbly, electro effects woven in to keep things modern. Halfway through they break it down to just vocal and drums, then thrillingly build it back up again.

Looking for someone to snap you out of your winter doldrums?
Rikki can, and Rikki will.