"Age Old Blues" Alela Diane

I've been hemming and hawing on this review for some time now. The truth of the matter is, it's so beautiful that I have a hard time expressing it's beauty in words, even in my own head. Even as I sit here now, sure of the song I want to write about and share with you, I'm unsure of what might come out when I finally get to the point where I talk about the song. "To Be Still" is the first album I'd ever heard by Alela Diane. I'm pretty sure she's got two others ("Pirate's Gospel" and "Forest Parade"), but I somehow missed them. Friend of ThaBombShelter, Song, By Toad, talked about, "To Be Still" ages ago, and to him, this album was too produced compared to "Pirate's Gospel". I happen to disagree, but then, we both love the album.

I first heard the album way back in February. Emily was at class and I was getting ready to do the dishes. It was cold and snowy and I was standing in front of the kitchen window when the music hit me. My thoughts upon hearing, "Dry Grass and Shadows" was literally, "Where has this gorgeous music been all my life?" I felt as if I had missed the boat and had finally found a piece of myself that I hadn't even realized was missing. In the intervening months I've drifted away from "To Be Still", but at least once a week (if not more often) I come back to it, putting it on most of my on-the-go playlists, skipping to the start of the album over other songs.

This particular song struck me almost immediately. The very first verse of the song is just gut-wrenchingly beautiful, "The sea beneath the cliff is the blue in my mother's eyes/That came from the blue in her mother's eyes". It may not seem as such just by reading it, but hearing the words and the intonations of Alela's voice make this into the touching, incredible song that it is. I think that sentiment might be true of all of her music. In anyone elses hands, her songs would not be as wonderful. The spartan arrangement of light instrumentation perfectly compliments her warm, clear voice. The music is just inviting. This is the type of music that sounds even better the louder and closer it is to your head and heart. It sounds it's best through a great pair of headphones cranked to 11 and surrounding you. It's like a hot cup of tea steaming in your hands or a warm cat curled up on your lap, purring away your cares.

"Age Old Blues" Alela Diane

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