The Silence of Love (Deluxe Version)

Headless Heroes features the ethereal vocals of California singer/songwriter (and Rough Trade artist) Alela Diane, accompanied by brand-name studio musicians such as Joey Waronker and Eno/Byrne collaborator Leo Abrahams. While some of these songs are familiar, one focus of the project was to cover unknown gems, and songs from both camps are a delight. The revered folk troubadour Jackson Frank’s “Blues Run the Game” is appropriately tinged with sadness, with Diane’s reverbed voice (think Beth Orton meets Hope Sandoval) accompanied by a lone finger-picked guitar. Vashti Bunyan’s haunting “Here Before” bobs gently on pillows of piano, guitar and what sounds like a dulcimer. “See My Love,” from ‘60s folk duo Gentle Soul, veers close to saccharine but stays on the side of sweeping, grand folk in the tradition of Tim Buckley. “The North Wind Blew South” is a standout, with Diane’s voice fluttering and floating like a leaf. Another stellar track is the mysteriously titled “Just One Time,” a spare, spooky rendition of Spaceman 3’s “Mary Anne.” This is a beautiful collection, and a great introduction to the talents of Alela Diane.