Alela Diane Issue #30

The Pirate's Gospel (Holocene Music)

By Bill Copeland
Published: December 1st, 2006 | 12:00am

On album-opener “My Tired Feet,” from Alela Diane’s sophomore album, The Pirate’s Gospel, Diane makes a strong impression, singing about her exhaustion at a long journey taken: “My tired feet brought me to the red boat so still in foreign waters.” In fact, throughout the album, Diane infuses common objects and images with greater meaning as in “The Rifle,” which tells of a father’s hunting rifle as a symbol of protection from marauders who prey on innocent families in rural isolated areas. Diane’s guitar’s strong impression and haunting arpeggios give a sense of moving forward undaunted and each song gets a push from the nimble style of a bluegrass banjo.  

Among these strengths, Diane’s greatest asset is her voice. Echoing wide, her timbre is rich and thick and her range is higher than most acoustic singer-songwriters, bringing each track to peaks and valleys that draw you in. “Foreign Tongue” shows her range hitting higher notes with clarity and purpose as Diane sings a melody with little support from a simple guitar. “Can You Blame The Sky” features Diane harmonizing with herself in beautifully thick overdubs on the choruses. Employing slide guitar on “Sister Self,” Diane’s introspection resonates in the smooth flow of extended, sustained blues. Closer “Oh! Mama” gives thanks to Diane’s most important musical influence, who taught her most of what she knows.  

Diane gives simple objects meaning by attaching to them personal significance and uses her uncanny, wide timbre to bring out greater emotion in each.