​Brandi Carlile (from the album Return to Myself

​Brandi Carlile (from the album Return to Myself

​Brandi Carlile (from the album Return to Myself available on Brandi Carlile Band/Interscope Records/Lost Highway) (by Danny McCloskey)

The ring of an acoustic guitar beckons ears to lean into “Return to Myself”, the opening cut and title track for the recent Brandi Carlile release. The story finds Brandi Carlile looking into a mirror to gather the words that float across an arrangement that rises and falls under the guidance of her vocals. While Brandi Carlile is the musician behind Returning to Myself, her first solo release in four years, her abilities as a producer, songwriter, and bandleader in the business of music all coming together to make the album an immediate friend of the family.

All albums are a reflection of the artist entering the studio to record. Returning to Myself, produced by Bradi Carlile, Aaron Dressner, Andrew Watt, and Justin Vernon, is a testament to the community built around the recording, a group that erased the lines between the musicians and the hands working the buttons behind the recording board’s glass divider. Co-producer Aaron Dressner describes the experience when he shared that ‘when Brandi came to visit me at Long Pond last year after completing years of work with Joni Mitchell and Elton John, we were both in times of transition. The most interesting music can happen when you feel lost in the woods and that’s exactly what happened. I’m so grateful Brandi trusted me to find herself in these songs. Along the way, I got to work with Brandi’s legendary bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth and the incredible Andrew Watt, who is now a friend and collaborator, and my best friend Justin Vernon joined us to sprinkle his inimitable magic. I couldn’t be more proud and honored to be a part of it’. 
Sonically, Returning to Myself spins the wheel to produce a sound that is a direct result of the woman with the pen, the guitar, and the voice behind the microphone. A powerful thrust kicks off “Church & State”, a hearty Rock punch
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produced by words and music equally. An intimacy wraps gossamer wings around the blend of guitar and voice that begins the admissions of “You Without Me” while “Joni” is a sonic hug of a cherished friend as “Human” traces a metronome-like heartbeat to post its advice and “A War with Time” relates stream of consciousness themes that build a framework of emotions over a revolving rhythm. Returning to Myself puts its memories of the past over a drifting mix of keyboard and voices for “A Woman Oversees” and celebrates “Anniversary” on a determined groove as Brandi Carlile puts wishes and hopes into “No One Knows Us”, exiting the album with “A Long Goodbye”. (by Danny McCloskey)
Listen and buy the music of Brandi Carlile from AMAZON
 
Please go to the Brandi Carlile website for more purchase and artist information