Nothing and nobody is spared on the first solo album of Canadian singer and songwriter Allison Russell. She takes no prisoners, the English would say. Russell sings in the roots band
Birds Of Chicago, but mainly took a career step forward as a member of
Our Native Daughters, the company of black singers around
Rhiannon Giddens. This strengthened her to record her first solo album, on which she looks
… back at her youth in Montreal. Not a good time, Russell was abused by a family member and wandered lonely through the city from an early age to avoid being at home. She wraps her story up in a collection of powerful songs in which country, folk, gospel and soul resound. She seems to want to pass on the healing effect music has on her to the listener with an inspired recital. Outside Child is, despite its heavy themes, a rich album. (MR)more