9. May 2025
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Media Review

I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

I'm With Her - Wild And Clear And Blue

I'm With Her - Wild And Clear And Blue
3.8

Rating

 3.8/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Great vocals
  • Good storytelling
  • Very harmonic style

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Some songs are on the lengthy side

It is already eleven years since the trio I’m With her has been founded. Her only album so far is dated as of 2018. Thus, it feels that they should urgently go for more. On 9th May 2025, the ladies share their sophomore album Wild And Clear And Blue. Here is my review.

 

I’m With Her – About The Artists

I’m With Her is an Americana trio, which has been formed in 2014. All three members also have and had a remarkable career outside the project. Sara Watkins (violin, guitar, ukulele), born on 8th June 1981 in California, works in several collaborations. For example, I reviewed her solo album Under The Pepper Tree (2021) and the 2022 Vol. 2 of Watkins Family Hour. My review of Sarah Jarosz’s Polaroid Lovers has been published rather recently. The 23rd May 1991-born Texas-origin artist released the album in 2024. The third member of I’m With Her is Aoife O’Donovan. So far, the 18th November 1982 born artist from Boston just appeared on my website as a guest musician. For their 2021 album Roses, she worked together with The Paper Kites for one track.

I’m With Her has released one album so far. In 2018, the band published See You Around. Between 2019 and 2023, the trio did not release a single song at all.

 

I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue – Track by Track

The eleven track album lasts 41 minutes.

1. Ancient Light

The album opener Ancient Light is one of three songs which have been released before the album. The song mixes folk and bluegrass elements. Together with the vocals, it leads to a very harmonic and dreaming style. Even the instrumental parts have a meditative touch. I like that, but you need to enjoy the beauty of the melody in order to avoid getting a bit of tired.

2. Wild and Clear and Blue

The title track of the album is at the second spot of its running order. Wild and Clear and Blue has a much stronger touch towards country music. However, the song also focuses stronger on the voices of the artist, which also increases the polyphonic character.

3. Sisters of the Night Watch

Sisters of the night watch
Do you know me?
I feel my soul resonate with thee
Sisters I’m not sure where I’m going

I’m with her present these starting words of Sisters of the Night Watch in a choir-alike setting. Even though the song leads towards a stronger Americana touch once the guitars are incepting, the song has a spiritual touch and even reminds of gospel. The chorus underlines the vocal magic which can me spread by this trio.

4. Different Rocks, Different Hills

The very fragile, but atmospheric vocal kick-off of Different Rocks, Different Hills remind me of the music of Sarah Darling. The instrumentation in here is limited and just does what is necessary to drive the track. Again, this leads to a warm and fascinating style.

5. Standing on the Fault Line

Standing on the Fault Line is one of the longest tracks on Wild And Clear And Blue. However, the song also starts very slowly and very often is almost exclusively driven by the three female voices. It’s slow speed adds quite a bit to the intimate and personal touch of this song. However, in the second half of the track, it is much more energetic. A very interesting plot.

6. Mother Eagle (Sing Me Alive)

The sixth song continues with the harmonic style of the album. However, it is more balanced between vocal and instrumental parts. This leads to a more interesting and entertaining listen. A nice one.

7. Only Daughter

Moon is on the water
I am an only daughter
Thinking of my mother and father
Dusk hits the bay

In regards of its personal and touching atmosphere, Only Daughter is one of the best tracks of I’m With Her’s 2025 album. However, after having listened to six songs of the record already, I just have to say that this one feels a bit too lengthy in its context. The instrumental collaboration, again in the second, more present part, is lovely, though.

8. Find My Way to You

Find My Way to You is the last song of the album fans of the band already know from streaming platforms. The fiddle takes a leading parts for the instruments. Especially in the second half of the song, you feel the bluegrass influence on the trio.

9. Strawberry Moonrise

Strawberry Moonrise is a 67 second interlude. With its spherical style vocals (without any lyrics), it does leave a mark while listenng, though.

10. Year After Year

Year After Year shows a more present melody again. The energetic start feels like a wake-up call after all these rather quiet listens. Again, the energy of the song is increasing over time, so that the song ends up as an intense mixture of bluegrass and folk.

11. Rhododendron

There are too few songs about the Rhododendron in musical history. I’m With Her alter that with their chucker-out. Overall, the song is a nice one, but it is also not as striking as other tracks in here.

Fire flickers and the stars burn brighter
November brushes against my skin
The stillness wraps around me like a rhododendron

 

I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue – My View

Wild And Clear And Blue is a treat for listeners, who enjoy fine and intimate storytelling in Americana tracks. If you are not a fan of the band already, this album might not catch you too often. The album is – unfortunately – having some too long parts. Also, the highlights of the songs are rather often towards their finale,

Favorite Song: Different Rocks, Different Hills

 

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