"Heat Sin Water Skin." Bettysoo.
This provocatively-titled album is Bettysoo's fourth release, and her richest to date. An Austin, Texas-based artist, her first three albums sounded like many to come from the Lone Star state's plentiful pool of women singer/songwriters.
On this one, Bettysoo ups the ante, with a clean production nicely laced with additional instrumentation that both individualizes and focuses her sound.
Respected musician, songwriter and producer Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier, Slaid Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard) helms to great effect this album as producer/engineer/mixer. He also delivers fine musicianship on various instruments, including some blistering guitar chops on the cut "Who Knows." Fiddler Gene Elders, drummer Dave Terry and organist Todd Wilson also contribute.
But the star of the CD is most definitely Bettysoo. She is an uncommon talent in more ways than one. She has noted herself that 5-foot-tall, freckle-faced Korean-American songwriters are not a common sight on the Austin scene. But her vocal talents belie her petite size, capable as it is of both songbird-sweetness and gritty groove.
Standouts include the crunchy opener "Never Knew No Love," featuring the singer's rugged side. "Get Clean" also has grit overall, and is driven masterfully by Wilson's keyboards.
Bettysoo delves into the delicate realm explored by the likes of Alison Krauss on cuts like "Just Another Lover" and her tribute to the real thing, "What We've Got." In the latter, she compares her true romance to a favorite pair of jeans: "They look tired but they make me feel good/ they look ragged but they fit like they should/ and I pray I'll get to keep 'em."
"Still Small Voice," is a Texas twang belter that tells Bettysoo's tale of finding herself through songwriting (no small thing in her hometown, known as it is for its lyric-slinging legends).
The only cover on the 11-song CD is a classic closer, Hank Williams' "Lonesome Whistle." She keeps her version simple with tender vocals and her gently picked acoustic guitar work, bringing the golden oldie into the heartbreaking present.
Like so many artists are doing nowadays, Bettysoo self-released "Heat Sin Water Skin." But the album will serve as a strong calling card for labels should she choose to go that route for her next effort.
Check out www.bettysoo.com.
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