Audio Mixers: Tom Menig; Thom Monahan.

Recording information: Sun Dial Studios, Nevada City, CA; Type Foundry, Portland, OR.

Photographers: Alela Diane; Mariee Sioux.

Like THE PIRATE'S GOSPEL, her debut, TO BE STILL, the follow-up release from alternative folk artist Alela Diane, is an intimate, haunting affair that showcases her songwriting and singing skills. Focused chiefly on Diane's voice and acoustic guitar, TO BE STILL recalls both the classic female folk singers like Karen Dalton and the spookier, more associative dimensions of contemporary artists like Marissa Nadler and Nina Nastasia. But while her voice lilts and lulls, it's the poetry of her lyrics and their evocative narratives that make this sophomore effort truly shine.