Mercury

Pieta Brown is quietly developing into one of the better rootsy singer/songwriters around. On Mercury she again teams up with guitarist Bo Ramsey, her main collaborator and coproducer, along with most of Mark Knopfler’s band (with whom she toured in 2010), to deliver another absorbing album. It was recorded live with few overdubs; the vibe captured is loose, comfortable, and natural. Brown’s warm, honeyed vocals are the focal point, her slurred, unhurried delivery giving the songs fluidity. Like mercury itself, the songs slide and shift as the band members feel out an understated, hypnotic groove at whatever tempo they’re playing. The soulful shuffles “I’m Gone,” “Blue Rider,” “Closing Time,” and “Glory to Glory” are punctuated by tremolo guitar lines and bluesy licks, while atmospheric, moody tracks like “Butterfly Blues,” “How Much of My Love,” “I Don’t Mind,” and the shimmering title track feel as if they were artfully constructed on the spot. Brown’s songwriting has grown with each release, and presented with this strong material her outstanding backing band adds countless subtle touches that add up to a sublime recording.