Back in the early 2000s, when the terms freak folk, anti-folk, and psych folk actually kind of signified something, Alela Diane emerged from Nevada City with a friend like Joanna Newsom and a voice like a toned-down Diane Cluck singing Townes Van Zandt (evidenced most brazenly by the first track on her Myspace). Last June, we mused about her technological deficiencies, but we also hinted at a 2011 album. As will happen with the passage of time, the year is now 2011 and we have confirmation of said album, entitled Alela Diane & Wild Divine.
A real family affair, Diane’s third studio endeavor consists of herself (naturally, the “Alela Diane” half), plus her husband and father, both guitarists named Tom, and friends Jonas and Jason on bass and drums, respectively (together, Wild Divine). To sweeten the deal, Scott Litt (ahem — R.E.M. and Nirvana) produced the whole thing. Alela Diane & Wild Divine is out April 5 from Rough Trade. Just to assuage your fears about the craziness of this album, no animals were harmed during the production of this album.
• Alela Diane: http://www.aleladiane.com
• Rough Trade: http://www.roughtraderecords.com