By Now
Need To Know 2024
10/10
A Texas artist with a penchant for blues, folk and country, Heather Little creates a sincere and warm version of Americana that spreads out across 13 songs that touch on the human experience.
The gorgeous and gripping “Five Deer Country” starts the listen, and showcases Little’s lovely voice alongside Rusty Van Sickle’s warm guitar and singing, and “Hands Like Mine” follows with Patty Griffin in attendance for the bare beauty and poetic demeanor that builds into rich layers thanks to Griffin’s unmistakable pipes and Stefano Intelisano’s fluid accordion.
Further along, “Better By Now” welcomes Ronnie Bowman’s bluegrass influences to the powerful vocal harmonies, while the thicker presence of “Transistor Radio” blends the crisp drums, Russ Pahl’s mysterious pedal steel and, of course, Little’s inviting and comforting voice.
Landing near the end, “Saint Christopher” benefits from Crystal Bowersox’s stunning voice that adds much intrigue to the sublime intimacy, and “Gunpowder & Lead” exits with Van Plating’s contributions on a song that Miranda Lambert popularized (Little co-wrote it), and here it radiates with meticulous violin and an autonomous energy.
Little has had her work covered by plenty of household names, and her wise and compassionate songwriting makes every song here a moment to be absorbed and explored. This is truly music that enriches other people’s lives.
Travels well with: Claudia Gibson- The Fields Of Chazy; Karyn Oliver- Cherchez La Femme