When someone avoids being labeled either by genre or by appearance, then we say that someone is standing out from the sea of multiple copies that undulates the music world. When that eccentric person is from the world of country and blues, the situation becomes even more aberrant. Ladies and gentlemen, let me present you Rachel Brooke, the artist well known in Goth Americana and death country circles.
Although she would never put herself under any classification, she collaborated with Lonesome Wyatt and The Holy Spooks which are one of the most famous death country artists. The collab was a special thing that showcased Rachel’s idiosyncratic blues vocal. The result was a magnificent album that helped Rachel become a little bit more famous, even though she is still on the edge of mainstream. In fact, she wants to be far away from mainstream.
She sings her morose country-blues songs that are so much more than just country or just blues song. Her vocal is a bit obscure and desperate, but it is ethereal enough to take you to some melancholic and sad places, equally effective with the cup of whiskey as with the cup of tea. These songs will migrate you to the unknown landscapes of some old America. They will time-travel you to the times of Hank Williams and Blind Willie Johnson. The album also resembles Jayke Orvis and Highlonosome. I even noticed moments of Rykarda Parasol and Kal Cahoone.
As I teased, you are entering the world of gothic Americana. EP titled The World’s Greatest Anchor is even more elegiac and forlorn release with desperately plaintive songs in blues and country matrix. Unique vocal is stabbing us directly in the heart. It also intrigues us with each new track.
Ghost Of You is the opening track in which Rachel decides to fight with demons from the past. She wants to combat ghosts of ex lovers, while being painfully sincere and acrimonious.
Everytime I get a drink I get closer to you, Rachel sings.
You broke me in every possible way, she admits on track called Delilah.
The World’s Greatest Anchor is a self-confession. It is a terse story about apathy. Give it a try when it rains.
