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Eight seconds into track one, there's the voice: calming, hypnotic and seductive, it stands inimitable, disembarking like a sultry Midwest breeze and sticking to the ribs like a Delta afternoon. But the singer is also a talented songwriter, and Pieta Brown crafts sharp-eyed and spiritual tunes in the inherent mold of her folksinger father Greg Brown--and with the spirit of the Alabama upbringing by her mother--for a unique soundtrack of country blues, whispered folk and front-porch lullabies. Recorded live at Memphis' famed Ardent Studios, Pieta's third record expands on the minimalist production of her self-titled debut, and guitarist Bo Ramsey returns to ride shotgun, wrapping his inconspicuous blues licks around complex arrangements and the sessions' barn-burning rhythm section. Yet that slide guitar on the sizzling title song belongs to Pieta, and she resonates like the queen of cool, begging to "put on Jimmy Vaughn" so we can "dance all day long." If the next dance is in the cool, I'm there.
--Scott Holter
Product Description
Recorded live at Ardent Studios in Memphis, In the Cool, is a collection of deep-grooved songs rooted in a visionary outpost where blues, country, folk and rudimental rock converge. Lyrically and musically poetic, Brown's deceptive simplicity and seductive purity create songs that meet defmitively somewhere between the Carter Family and Tom Waits. On In the Cool Brown delves in to the age-old subjects of love and loss, with traces of addiction and flashes of feverish edge, realizing an accessible yet fresh and singular voice. Co-produced by Pieta and guitarist Bo Ramsey (Greg Brown, Lucinda Williams), the album features an all-star lineup including bassist Dave Jacques (John Prine), keyboardist Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton, Etta James) and drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy & Julie Miller, Shelby Lynne). Iris Dement and Greg Brown also make appearancesThe album as a whole has tremendous opportunities at radio, in particular we expect Bob Harris to get behind this and be able to play on all three of his shows; Thursday country show, Friday, country-rock show and Saturday's, rock show. BBC Radio 2 ( Terry Wogan, Ken Bruce etc.) we do have a really good shot with Johnny Walker, Mark Radcliffe, Jeremy Vine, Jonathan Ross - will also be pushing for a spin or two on the Mike Harding Folk Show as well Aside from Radio 2, we will be servicing in full, BBC 6 Music, XFM and Virgin. We will also be servicing Andy Kershaw and Late Junction on BBC Radio 3. Key BBC regionals, in particular BBC Radio Scotland. 2006