Although Brigitte DeMeyer comes from the Bay Area, her music radiates with the sounds of the south. Red River Flower, the follow-up to her acclaimed 2005 disc Something Ater All, benefits from being recorded in Nashville with such ace sidemen as Buddy Miller, Mike Henderson, Al Perkins, Phil Madeira and Brady Blade (who again serves as her producer).
Despite all of those high-powered players, it’s DeMeyer’s own artistry that shines through. With an earthy, soulful voice, she comes off something like Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer’s unknown sister, or perhaps like Sheryl Crow if she had stayed on the club circuit. DeMeyer covers much Americana territory, from beautiful spare ballads (“A Moment’s Refugee” and “Bird”) to foot-stomping country rave-ups (“Without You”), and even an excursion into twangy jazz (“When I’m Gone”).
But she is at her finest when she delves into country soul. The sublime opening track, “Looking For Moses”, is a sultry, finger-popping number that suggests a lost Stax gem. Blade, who played drums as well as produced (his drumming credits include Emmylou Harris’ Spyboy band), helps to build wonderfully rootsy grooves on “Wicked To Win” and “Justice”.
All of DeMeyer’s Americana elements really coalesce on “Shepherd”, a stirring gospel-fueled tune elevated by some nimble guitar picking. “Shepherd” also is one of several tunes touching on sin and salvation.
