Alela Diane Signs to Rough Trade, Readies To Be Still for February Release

With her album The Pirate's Gospel, Alela Diane introduced herself as the folk-revival-revival's latest heroine. Hailing from Nevada City, California —the same locale as harp-plucking freak-folk princess Joanna Newsom, and finger-plucking songsmith Mariee Sioux— the 25-year-old delivered a stark set of timeless songs, steeped in traditions of Americana. Initially released as a home-made CDR in 2004, The Pirate's Gospel was released on pressed-up CD in 2006, and by 2007, Diane's star was definitely on the rise.

Now, London's iconic Rough Trade Records have announced that they've inked up one Alela Diane Menig, and will be issuing the next Alela Diane album. To Be Still will be released on February 17, 2009, with artwork and track listing still to be unveiled.

To hear Alela Diane at work for free-like, go listen to the set she played for the Daytrotter website back in the early '07. There, in an unfettered live-to-air environment, Menig's rich, thick voice and simple, aching songs ring out with sterling clarity. With To Be Still looming, I'm guessing that, come the end of '09, this luminous folkie songstress should be a much-more-famous name.