New Buffalo: Somewhere, Anywhere

Australian singer-songwriter Sally Seltmann (a.k.a. New Buffalo) tones down the electronic-aided orchestration on her sophomore album, Somewhere, Anywhere, emphasizing a rippling piano and her fragile, girlish voice. Seltmann exposes herself in the arrangements and lyrics of songs like "Stay With Us" and "You've Gone My Friend," which sound anguished and needy, reaching out for a moment of clarity and human connection. Somewhere, Anywhere's performances and atmosphere are often stronger than the songs, as too much of the record dissolves into mush. But that's a natural side effect of Seltmann's approach, which relies on repeating half-phrases and imbuing them with mythical meaning. Nearly every song on Somewhere, Anywhere sounds like a reprise.