Let me introduce you to the amazing talent of Chastity Brown
who is set to unleash her brand of American roots music on the UK market with
this debut release and a full tour in September. As the title BACK-ROAD
HIGHWAYS suggests this is a record born and bred away from big metropolitan
cities as Chastity soaked up her influences from New Hampshire through the rich
heritage of Tennessee via Appalachia before surfacing in her new Minneapolis
base. The sound reflects a melting pot of soul, blues, folk and gospel to carry
the torch of Leadbelly into a contemporary world where boundaries are blurred
but containing an articulate fan base looking for new ways of capturing the
past.
The endearing feature of the album is how the guitar,
banjo, harmonica, bass, percussion and organ wrap their roots sounds around the sultry and occasionally
gravelly vocals of Chastity in a multitude of laid back jazz like tunes that
meander around your mind. The mesmeric feel to the listening experience is
borne out of a consistent sound that smoothes out the peaks and troughs. Selecting
a stand out track is tough but the captivating opener ‘House Been Burnin’ slightly shades it. Although Chastity is the
architect of all eleven tracks, this metronomic pleaser with what sounds like exceptional slide guitar is a co-write with producer Paul Buono.
In a shared recording location of Franklin and Nashville
Tennessee, Chastity has supplemented her own guitar, piano, banjo and harmonica
skills with a collection of session musicians to give the record a fuller sound.
The southern influence leaves traces of gospel especially in the five minute
track ‘After You’ where with a hint
of twang the sound drifts along with an increasing tempo. Blues –style instrumentals
influence ‘I Left Home’ while the
soul drenched organ laces album closer ‘If
You Let Me’. The carefree nature of
immersing yourself into this near fifty minute long listening pleasure is
summed up in the lyrical response to ‘Could’ve
Been A Sunday’ where Chastity responds to this statement with ‘but it could’ve
been a Saturday’ as to suggest does it really matter. Not that you really care
what day it is while submerging yourself into this release.
While the lyrics of Chastity are emotionally driven and
enchanting, it is the vocals and instrumental expertise that creates a lasting
impression with a record that will leave you with a desire to switch off and
enjoy. Open minded fans of country, folk, gospel, soul and blues will find
merits in BACK-ROAD HIGHWAYS but this release only just touches these genres.
However if you have an insatiable appetite for a general overview of American
roots music, then Chastity Brown is the artist for you.
