Blanche

"If our debut album was about life throwing you in a ditch and thinking about why these horribly sad things happen, I guess this is about pulling yourself out of that ditch," says Dan John Miller of Blanche's forthcoming album, Little Amber Bottles.

With a sound only possible from the birthplace of Motown, Blanche weave bruised, eerily beautiful tales forged from equal parts of grit and strychnine-laced grandeur—inspired by Depression-era blues, early country music, and stripped-down rock 'n' roll—all delivered in the style of an electrified, gospel quintet.

The heart that breathes life into these spectral sounds belongs to the married couple Tracee Mae and Dan John Miller, who both may be most easily recognized from the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line, in which Dan John played guitarist Luther Perkins (naturally, Tracee Mae played Luther's wife). The band's pedigree extends to the group of striking musicians that frame the duo: The Raconteurs' Little Jack Lawrence (also of The Greenhornes) on banjo and mandolin, David Feeny on haunted pedal steel, and Lisa Jaybird Jannon on hushed drums.

Blanche debuted in 2004 with If We Can't Trust The Doctors (V2 Records), a ghostly set of tales dealing with faith in the face of the unexpected, no hope, and very little charity, moving critics to draw comparisons to Nick Cave's black-hearted romance and The Carter Family's back porch charm. The album's success landed the band on tour with Wilco, The Kills, and Calexico, as well as select appearances in support of The Flaming Lips and Franz Ferdinand. Variously described as "a truly exceptional debut" (CMJ), "gorgeously spooky" (Entertainment Weekly) and "sparkling, elegant and sharp" (Vanity Fair) the album was a critical success, with publications across the country lauding Blanche for a deeply engrossing and enchanting debut.

Blanche then further broadened their impressive family tree by acting as Loretta Lynn's backing band on her Jack White-produced, Grammy Award-winning album, Van Lear Rose. Dan John and Tracee Mae also sing on the country music legend Charlie Louvin's recent self-titled comeback album.

Blanche returns now with Little Amber Bottles, recorded by both Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Will Oldham, Candi Staton, Silver Jews) in his Nashville bungalow and the band's own Feeny in Detroit. Throughout the album, Tracee Mae and Dan John's vocals are rich and poignant, frequently intertwining into duets that are alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking. Plucked banjo strings flicker over quivering strings ("I'm Sure of It") while stately guitars parade in time with soaring vocals ("Last Year's Leaves")... simple guitar and banjo lines build into a gentle swing as plaintive as it is playful ("A Year From Now")... pedal steel floats and toy piano glistens above acoustic guitar ("Little Amber Bottles"). Little Jack handles lead vocals on his self-penned, otherworldly "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?" while special guest Isobel Campbell (formerly of Belle & Sebastian) plays cello on "No Matter Where You Go."

Little Amber Bottles is a collection of world-weary, dreamy songs that cast a spooky yet elegant shadow. Beautifully and thoughtfully arranged then blessed with a soulful gothic kiss, Blanche has woven themes of sin, faith, and redemption, love lost and found to leave listeners with messages at once melancholic and hopeful.