
Released in January, US folk/country singer Alela Diane's beautiful second album To Be Still has been swiftly followed by this EP (or 'companion album') featuring Alina Hardin. Alela's voice is astonishing, and is perfectly complemented by Alina's, and by the simple accompaniment. Three songs are covers, including 'Matty Groves', a ballad perhaps most famously covered by Fairport Convention on Liege and Lief . To say Alela and Alina more than do justice to a song that most people will know from that version, sung by the great Sandy Denny, should give some idea of how good this [...]

I have a friend that's soon going to be a famous actress. This is not a lie. I woke up yesterday morning to find "Paranormal Activity" as the top Twitter trending topic. See, I have friends in high places, and soon you'll have to recognize that this is just how I roll. I eat fine cheeses and fly around in helicopters on the weekend. Brad Pitt sends me Christmas cards. Occasionally, I email the Olsen Twins about good music; I do this for fun and because people like me. Not really. But I'm absolutely stoked that my friend, [...]