Singer / songwriter Alela Diane originated from the American freak folk scene in the mid-noughties. In 2004 she debuted with her intimate bedroom recordings The Pirate's Gospel full of slightly deranged and folky acoustic songs. But just like colleague / girlfriend Joanna Newsom she outgrew the freak folk, purely by learning to play better and write more professional songs. The fact that she lost
… the naivety of those early days is not appreciated in the media here and there. Strange because her third album is full of timeless and lyrical folk rock with light country influences. With her warm and clear voice (with nicely dosed sobs) she knows how to nail you as a listener to her songs. Songs that often have a melancholic slant and are full of poetic images in which nature and religion dominate. Diane has grown into a great artist who can compete at her best with country divas like Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Who else wants to send her back to her bedroom? (MR)more
