To Be Still with Alela Diane

Another artist that has slowly crept her way into my heart over the past year is Alela Diane, whose sparse, haunting debut album The Pirate's Gospel was a quietly beguiling affair that seemed equally influenced by English folk and Appalachian music.
Her new album, To Be Still, is already a contender for album of the year for me: her vocals more assured and daring (often sounding like a richer, less annoying version of Joanna Newsom) and the music more fleshed out with drums, violin, banjo and cello, giving it at times a more country feel. Rough Trade has just released the first video from the album for the track White As Diamonds and visually it fits to the music to a tee. I'm seeing Alela live in March, can't wait!