You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
Pictured on the sleeve wearing a serpent-winged chiffon creation even Stevie Nicks might dismiss as a bit too witchy, Blackbirds pitches the acclaimed Nashville songwriter as an exponent of brooding country-noir.
Deftly executed with backing from some leading American roots music players (Jerry Douglas, Jason Isbell, Jimmy LaFave) the album treads a line between dusty 70s folk and slick country.
It’s a road previously travelled by Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams and Peters assuredly navigates her tales of death, ageing and dusty landscapes.
Sadly, although it promises much – the title track’s opening guitar fuzz temporarily fizzes with Crazy Horse-style electricity and the atmospheric The Cure For The Pain beautifully bookends the album – Blackbirds fails to take off and truly convince. A case of more darkness required./o:p
