Seattle singer/songwriter Sera Cahoone’s new album, From Where I Started, is a hushed roots music collection that draws from classic country folk. While her fourth LP, her latest feels as if it could be a bookend to Cahoone’s self-titled debut largely due to the fact that both albums were written and initially recorded alone with Cahoone doing all of the singing, guitar and drums herself. Later, she is assisted by co-producer John Morgan Askew (Laura Gibson, Alela Diane, Neko Case) and a number of notable Northwest musicians, including Jason Kardong (Jay Farrar, Son Volt) on pedal steel; Jeff Fielder (Amy Ray, Mark Lanegan) on guitar; Annalisa Tornfelt (The Decemberists, Bearfoot) on fiddle; Dave Depper (Fruit Bats, Death Cab for Cutie) on bass; and Rob Burger (Iron and Wine, Lucinda Williams) on piano, Wurlitzer, pump organ, farfisa and mellotron. The merging of the single talent with that of many results in a record that is warm, reflective, and intimate. Album highlights include: the reflective “Only One”; the rolling ditty “Time to Give”; the tender track “Up to Me”; and two songs about heartbreaking loss – “Ladybug” and “Taken Its Toll.” Sera Cahoone has been a top-notch artist from the beginning and she continues to get better with each album. Go out and get From Where I Started. – Written by JFelton
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