From her birthplace on a Vermont sheep farm to Beirut caf--s, Cairo apartments and Austin recording studios, Ana--s (ah-NAY-iss) Mitchell has been around. Therefore, it's no surprise that The Brightness, Mitchell's Righteous Babe debut, is infused with the restless, worldly perspective of a real troubadour.

With The Brightness, Mitchell gives us a glimpse into the raw talent and infectious energy of today's underground folkies, not to mention a handful of the places she's been. Over the course of 11 songs, listeners are transported to Bethlehem and the Virginia countryside; they bathe in New Mexico moonlight and hear the world whizzing by from the inside of a hobo's train car. But for all of its worldliness, this is a lovingly homemade album. During therecording process, Ana--s lived above the studio, which was built into an old Vermont gristmill. She could wake up, shake the sleep out of her eyes and record tracks in her pajamas.

Recorded with producer and long-time collaborator Michael Chorney and a handful of Vermont-based artists, The Brightness is anchored by sparse, unpretentious arrangements, whether it's the charming backwoods banjo of "Shenandoah," Chorney's warm lap-steel playing, or Mitchell's acoustic guitar work, which is almost harp-like in its soft, economical beauty. On the rare
occasions when the production gets richer, it's instantly memorable---especially the wave of vocal harmony that washes over the chorus of "Your Fonder Heart."

Mitchell spins stories about forgotten old poets, jilted lovers and the three wise men, making each one a distinct chapter of one cohesive work. Her lyrics tackle the personal and political with equal aplomb, often blurring the lines between the two. In fact, thin lines are a recurring theme in her music, whether it's between friends and lovers, religion and violence, or prosperity and pain.

"Tracy's music is about true meaning, life, and the spirit." (Gary Goldberg, host of "In The Spirit," WPRI-NY radio) Her rootsy melodies sooth the soul. Her unique style combined with infectious hooklines and ever-changing musical moods will take you on a memorable journey.