“Alela Diane's new record may come as a pleasant surprise to those who haven't checked in on the Portland-based singer-songwriter since 2006's *The Pirate's Gospel*. On that charming but demo-ish jumble sale of an album Diane sorted through familiar folk forms (sea shanty, blues lament, narrative ballad) with a couple of chords and some sleepy arpeggios. If neither her vision nor her musicianship c”
