Sing The Delta

IRIS DEMENT'S FIRST ALBUM OF ORIGINAL SONGS IN 16 YEARS SING THE DELTA OUT OCT 2nd

Considered ''one of the finest artists of her generation'' (All Music), Iris DeMent has returned with her first album of original music in 16 years, Sing The Delta, out October 2 on her own Flariella label. The album brings the delta to life through timeless songs, DeMent's richly evocative voice and support from a cast of first-call musicians including Al Perkins, Reese Wynans, and album co-producers Bo Ramsey and Richard Bennett.

Sing The Delta is uplifting and heartbreaking, ripe with twang and soul. Dixie horns, weeping slide guitar balladry and bright, Gospel-tinged piano swirl as Iris contemplates religion, love and family with introspection and imagery that few singer-songwriters can convey. Iris' voice soars over a bluesy crawl on ''The Kingdom Has Already Come'' while ''The Night I Learned How Not To Pray'' is a vivid story about the tragic death of a young boy and subsequent religious reckoning.