Brandi Carlile – Returning To Myself
★★★★
INTERSCOPE/LOST HIGHWAY
Earlier this year, singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile was singing and touring with Elton John behind their hit album Who Believes In Angels? (2025) – one of a number of collaborations she’s undertaken in recent years that include those remarkable shows with Joni Mitchell.
As the title suggests, this is a solo album – her first since In These Silent Days, four years ago. And it’s a real beauty: 10 stunning songs, many of them on the slow, pensive side. The album starts and ends with two of its sparser songs – squeaky acoustic guitar strings on the title track; the heart-aching harmony on closer A Long Goodbye. There’s a fine story-telling country song (No One Knows Us); a dramatic rocker (Church & State) – and songs whose piano and multiple harmonies feel like church (You Without Me; Joni) . But it never sounds less than gorgeous.
Returning To Myself is out October 24 on Interscope.
ORDER: Amazon | Rough Trade | HMV
Tracklisting:
1. Returning To Myself
2. Human
3. A Woman Oversees
4. A War With Time
5. Anniversary
6. Church & State
7. Joni
8. You Without Me
9. No One Knows Us
10. A Long Goodbye
Get the new issue of MOJO for the definitive verdict on all the essential new music releases, reissues, music books and films. More info and to order a copy HERE!
