Acclaimed Minneapolis singer/songwriter
Chastity Brown
makes her
Red House Records
debut with
Silhouette of Sirens
, an emotionally introspective LP that offers the most fully realized version of her soulful roots-pop sound to date. Since coming onto the Midwestern folk scene in 2007,
Brown
's take on Americana music has shifted a number of times, arriving a decade later in a considerably more nuanced, rock-oriented guise that still bears traces of the folk and blues of her Tennessee upbringing. Over these ten tracks, she traverses the tumult of relationships, marking desires, downfalls, and joys in a voice that deftly ranges from sensual swagger to quiet vulnerability. From the dark and driving "Wake Up" to the pensive road anthem "Colorado," there's a hard-won resiliency to
's tone reflecting both her growth as an artist and her ability to look unflinchingly and acceptingly inward. Confessional as
Silhouette
is, there are lighter, more buoyant moments too, like the rugged barnburner "Pouring Rain" and the sweetly laid-back "Whisper." In all, this is another strong release for an artist whose skills seem more finely tuned with each new album. ~ Timothy Monger