Click here to listen to “Shenandoah” by Anais Mitchell.
There are a few albums currently available in mainstream music that listeners can truly define as harmonious or get a sense of fluidity. For those of you looking for a little more substance in your musical ventures, look no further than Anais Mitchell.
Mitchell, 25, is the latest artist to sign onto Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records. Her debut album for the label “The Brightness”, released this past Tuesday, is a blend of poetry and lyrical storytelling.
Like most underground folkies, Mitchell is not new to the scene. She has previously recorded two other albums, “The Song They Sang When Rome Fell” and “Hymns from the Exiled,” produced on smaller folk labels.
On her latest CD, you can hear her years of experience as a thrifty singer-songwriter. Mitchell recorded this album in a converted gristmill in her home state of Vermont. One can imagine the intimate recording setting, which can be heard in the soft echoes of her harmonies and illuminating her strong vocal ranges heard on such tracks as “Shenandoah” and “Hobo’s Lullaby.”
“The Brightness” highlights Mitchell’s unique voice and signing style, described by her Web Site as “a distinctive, almost childlike voice.”
Her style does take some time to understand because the songs must be listened to in their entirety. Songs such as “Hades ‘ Persephone” and “Out of Pawn” are worth closing your eyes to.
According to her Web Site, Mitchell is an avid traveler and the album definitely expresses her national and international journeys. Each song has a different message, but all seem to connect from the start to the end of the album with the first track, “Your Fonder Heart,” setting the tone of the album.
Mitchell has a way of using the experiences of her expeditions and beautifully weaving them in with very relatable emotional and spiritual states. Coupled with Mitchell’s exceptional vocal style and the folklore-like lyrics, this album expresses elation and sadness at the same time.
“Santa Fe Dream” is one such track that does so: “all the while the rambling stars / all the while the roving moon / all the while the railroad cars / keep passing by / passing by you.”
Mitchell not only sings on the album, but also plays guitar and piano. Along with several distinctive musical accompaniments such as the lap steel, the banjo, and the Hammond organ, everything on this album is immensely organic. All instruments suit the natural flow of her voice.
It would not be surprising to hear one of Mitchell’s tracks on an indie-movie soundtrack in the near future. The arrival of Mitchell is proof that real music and talent does exist.
If you are a fan of Bob Dylan, Ani DiFranco, Joni Mitchell (no relation) and other greats known for their inimitable songwriting and matchless vocals, Anais Mitchell “The Brightness” is a great addition to your collection.
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