EMILY JANE WHITE-“ Dark Undercoat” and DEEP DARK WOODS-”Hang Me Oh Hang Me”
Today, two artists whose music recalls the rustic songs done by the Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, The Cowboy Junkies, and even Gram Parsons and Dave Grisman–except the banjo plunk is replaced by dark, somber country.
First, Emily Jane White. Double Negative Records, is releasing her debut album, Dark Undercoat, on November 5. Occupying an odd space between Hope Sandoval, Cat Power, and Goth, Emily Jane White makes musically simple but lyrically complex folk songs that ruminate on myths and mystics. In Sleeping Dead, she sings: “I had a dream last night/there were ravens above my bed/and they took my newlywed’/’Cause we’re all sleeping dead.” It sounds like the kind of traditional that The Grateful Dead used to play, but Ms. White infuses a sinister, breathy sense of menace.
Hailing from San Francisco, Emily is best known so far for “Wild Tigers I Have Known,” the title track from soundtrack of the film by the same name. (Go ahead, figure that sentence out. I dare you.) This is a style of music that I don’t take to easily, but Dark Undercoat quickly won me over. An excellent release that I recommend to all of you.
She offers a great deal of material on her website and myspace pages. Check her out.
Sleeping Dead-Emily Jane White
Wild Tigers I Have Known-Emily Jane White
A more upbeat, and more traditional, sound comes from Deep Dark Wood’s sophmore album, The Deep Dark Woods. I really love this album. I haven’t heard anything this rootsy and smooth in a long time. “Hang Me Oh Hang Me” borrows its lyrics heavily from “Been All Around This World,” and I suspect both traditionals have similar roots. “River in the Pines” is a slow, mournful lament like the best Los Lobos tunes. “Glory, Hallelujah,” is a raucous, gospel romp. It’s all here. Everything you need for a great afternoon on the porch. I can’t recommend this record enough.
On the Black Hen Music label, out of Canada.
September 21, 2007 at 9:42 pm
This is some good stuff. For more good stuff check out luxuriamusic.com
February 5, 2008 at 9:19 am
I just found The Deep Dark Woods via HearYa and now you; thanks for the post and the songs! Another alt-country singer, Oliver Buck, did a version of I’ve Been All Around This World that I like very much. You can hear it on the CD Baby page for his disc Rust Belt Blues, which was on my best albums of 2007 list http://stellasplice.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/favorite-albums-of-2007/
Plus, Buck has a new album due out this spring!
February 13, 2008 at 1:41 am
[...] and buying on CD Baby. You can also download two mp3s, including Hang Me courtesy of Berkeley Place here. Better yet, listen to both their self-titled first release and their 2007 disc titled Hang Me, Oh [...]