Song Review: Josh Ritter & Aoife O’Donovan - “Strong Swimmer” (Duet)
Given Josh Ritter wrote and sung “Strong Swimmer” from his mother’s perspective, it made sense to add a woman’s voice when he re-recorded it.
The woman he chose was Aoife O’Donovan, whom Ritter calls a “truly incredible musical thinker.” And her voice and guitar add depth to the track, which originally appeared on Ritter’s Spectral Lines.
I cannot go where you are going/I can no longer fight those waves/still I’ll watch you ’til you’re out of sight/a strong swimmer all the way, Ritter and O’Donovan sing as they evoke more than a little of Paul Simon’s musical ethos.
A buoyant song on its own, “Strong Swimmer” is more so with O’Donovan in the sonic pool.
Grade card: Josh Ritter & Aoife O’Donovan - “Strong Swimmer” (Duet) - B+
6/26/23
