This song features incredibly sparse instrumentation – featuring almost exclusively just guitar and voice. This was a very deliberate choice by the artist, by restricting the urge to add more complexity and layers Habel achieves a much more personal feeling that allows the listener to connect in a much more personal way when compared to a more composite texture.
‘Rivulets of guitar plucking on ‘Little Twirl’ create a perfect soundtrack for an escapist.’ – Irina Shtreis for The Quietus. This is an excerpt from a brief review of the entire album ‘Carving’ where Shtreis touches on a lot of the wider context of Habel’s life – one of which being how a few songs are dedicated to Habel’s teenage sister who died in an accident. The song ‘Valiant’ in particular features similar instrumentation, specifically the guitar being played so softly that it produces a sound almost closer to a zither.
While the song does not feel out of place from the rest of Habel’s 38 minute album ‘Carving’ – it does stand out to me as a song with a much more exposing look into the artists thoughts and emotions. I think much of this connection can be put down to the sparse instrumentation that feels raw and unpolished while also retaining a sense of deliberate artistry that is impossible to look past. By restraining herself to compose with more minimal instrumentation Juni Habel succeeds in making her own ideas and emotions much more relatable.