The Nishnabotna River flows under cottonwood groves and in the wide open spaces of Iowa and Nebraska. Yet, in the title track of Matt Cox’s Nishnabotna, he uses no lyrics to relay its imagery. Still, a close listen to the instrumental track reflects the concept of the song; the quick plucking of his guitar, the rolling of the Nishnabotna River. Nishnabotna, the fourth studio album from Cox — an Omaha folk/country musician born and raised in Shenandoah, Iowa — is filled with memories tied to the land and references to the river, which flows through his childhood farm.

“When I see that picture of the cover, the river and the title, it instantly takes me back to my childhood,” Cox says. “My childhood, my mom’s there, my family’s there and my grandparents. I wanted something that had a theme that represented all of that.”

The themes of memory and place are apparent from the beginning of the album’s first track, “Country Rose.” With h...