Ghalia Volt Mississippi Blend (LP, 180g Vinyl)

(Ruf Records) 11 tracks

You can't miss Ghalia. She's a born rock goddess in a leather jacket, smiling wickedly as she offers you something high-proof from the flask in her back pocket. But what really tastes like the South are the songs.

After her 2017 breakthrough record Let The Demons Out came with plenty of New Orleans flair, the Brussels-born singer and songwriter is now diving even deeper into the musical traditions of the American South. To do so, she traveled to the famed Hill Country region of Mississippi, where a group of acclaimed musicians from the area brought her songs to life red hot. This is Mississippi Blend: an album as fiery and potent as moonshine from the Delta. Only one recording studio came into question for this.

Zebra Ranch Studio in Coldwater, Mississippi - headquarters of award-winning producer Jim Dickinson - is a leading address when it comes to old school production. Titans like T-Model Ford and R. L. Burnside have been immortalized on record here.

"My goal with this album, first and foremost, was to have a natural sound, with the Hill Country influences, the punk and garage, and the rock 'n' roll that was my starting point as a musician. I'm not trying to imitate any style, but trust my songs as the driving force." That flask in your back pocket? Go ahead and grab it. What's inside is sure to pack a punch. So does Mississippi Blend - a roots cocktail that bangs like no other album you'll hear this year. The singer sums up her excitement for it, "I can't wait to perform this album live."