Still + Bright (Rounder, 2024)

Singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah received attention as part of the powerful foursome Our Native Daughters with Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell and Leyla McCalla as Kiah's "Black Myself" won a Grammy. Her solo predecessor to "Still + Bright" was a downcast effort, "Wary + Strange." She's turned the page somewhat as the title may suggest, moving in diverse, experimental directions beyond folk to embrace some other genres. The album is also replete with guests, some of whom are co-writers. Thematically, the album revolves around Kiah's interest in historical stories and philosophy as she delves into the cosmos, space, meditation and self-discovery in her one-of-a-kind voice.

The opener "Play God and Destroy the World," inspired by the movie "Matrix," is a co-write with the 400 Unit's guitarist Sadler Vaden and features S.G. Goodman on vocals as she reflects on her childhood with a sense of hope. "SPACE," with her banjo, fiddle (Tania Elizabeth) and mandolin (Ellen Angelico), evokes the rootsy nature of Our Native Daughters. Standout "Empire of Love," a co-write with Sean McConnell, on the other hand, has grungy guitars and layers of keyboards courtesy of Butch Walker's production. Walker is a featured vocalist on his rocking co-write "Silk and Pedals" while acoustic guitar ace Billy Strings is the co-writer and featured soloist on the motoring, glorious "I Will Not Go Down."

Kiah weaves in country and gospel strains on several tracks, the latter on "Die Slowly Without Complaint" sung in duet with co-writer Avi Kaplan while the closer, "People's Prayer" is a co-write with Rancid's Tim Armstrong as her poignant lead, filled out with choir-like background, states "hang on for dear life until it's over." The country waltz "Dead Stars" provides a bit of break for the sonic density with Elizabeth's fiddle complementing one of Kiah's strongest vocals on the album. Similarly, acoustic strains underpin the slightly haunting "Let's See Ourselves Out" with Mickey Raphael of Willie Nelson's band on his signature harmonica.

There's so much to digest in this well-crafted album, but one of lyrical gems is the hand clapped rocker"Never Alone," one of seven non self-penned songs, as she cautions us not to be so self-obsessed.

"Still Bright" is one of those albums that you need to listen to on a couple of levels, instrumentally and lyrically. It's a major step forward.