Carrie Elkin - Call It My Garden

Carrie Elkin has called a number of places home, from Colorado and Taos to New England, but when she settled in Austin, TX in 2007 she -- and her roots/folk music -- seemed to have found the ideal environment. She had released three solid album since her '96 debut, but it was '07's The Jeopardy of Circumstance produced by Colin Brooks of Austin's The Band of Heathens that broke her through to a larger audience internationally and earned her rave reviews. Elkin's intelligent, unpretentious writing and smoky vocals combined with Brooks' wide-open Americana sound was a potent and rewarding mix. “We have never seen a performer so in love with the act of singing," gushed U.K. Americana bible Maverick after catching Elkin's live set.

The excellent new Call It My Garden (January 25, Red House) again has Brooks on board along with Elkin partner Danny Schmidt sharing production duties. The feel of the project is loose and relaxed, the primarily acoustic instrumentation and earthy sound finding the right balance between authentic roots -- the pick-'n-grin fun of "Jesse Likes Birds" -- and the heartfelt, dustbowl balladry and exquisite vocal harmonies of "Lift Up the Anchor". “My ‘folk family’ is what keeps me going, and there’s nothing like making music with the people you love," says Elkin. "There was a beautiful mix of professionalism and ridiculousness." And, she adds, "We laughed a lot." Watch the EPK after the jump...

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Carrie Elkin - "Lift Up the Anchor" (from the album Call It My Garden)

Carrie Elkin - "Jesse Likes Birds" (from the album Call It My Garden)

Photo Credit: Rodney Bursiel