Heartache, loneliness and desperation have never sounded as captivatingly lovely as they do in the gifted hands of the consummate Canadian singer/songwriter Lynn Miles. With a style that recalls the likes of Joni Mitchell and Shawn Colvin with just a touch of a more introspective Lucinda Williams, Miles, over the course of six studio albums since the mid-90's, has been one of the most consistently brilliant if sinfully unheralded performers of our time. Ranging from the stripped and dark Unravel to the more mainstream folk/pop of the Larry Klein-produced Night In A Strange Town, Miles, as the NY Times observed, "makes being forlorn sound like a state of grace."

Black Flowers I and II, releasing February 9 is an ongoing series of albums that revisits Miles' impressive collection of songs and presents new versions of some of her best works (and some previously unrecorded ones as well) in a simple guitar/piano/voice setting. Not surprisingly, this back-to-basics process is perfect for her music as the heartfelt lyrics, whether coming from pain, loss or redemption, take on an even more directly resonant and personal tone. After the recording of a new, fully produced studio album early this year, look for a third volume of Black Flowers in May and then, according to Miles, a new volume every six months. Highly recommended.

Lynn Miles - "Map of My Heart" (from the album Black Flowers I and II)

Lynn Miles - "The People You Love" (from the album Black Flowers I and II)