Rainy Eyes, whose civilian name is Irena Eide, made the long trek from her native Norway to Denmark to the Bay Area to eventually land in Lafayette, Louisiana, where she has lived for the past four years. Lonesome Highway is the tale of two recordings, starting in the unincorporated coastal community of Bolinas, California, and completed by Dirk Powell at his Cypress House studio on the banks of the Bayou Teche. The project began in Rainy’s redwood cabin with producer Jeremy D’Antonio and pals Sam Grisman (upright bass) and Ric Robertson (electric guitar) doing experimental mic placement and even recording outdoors. It could have been released as is, but Rainy waited to see what else could be done with it. Once in Powell’s hands, he added and re-did various parts, playing electric guitar, Wurlitzer, bass, fiddle, and banjo. He also brought in the late Chris Stafford (steel guitar), Eric Adcock (organ), Bill Smith (drums), and daughters Amelia and Sophie to sing background vocals. Three new songs, “Misty Mama,” “You Just Want What You Can Have,” and “Just a Little Rain” were recorded by Powell.
These eleven originals run the gamut from austere acoustic folk (“Misty Mama”) to lazy California country rock (“A Little Dream”) to Americana shaded by shards of old-time, bluegrass and poppy-flavored chestnuts. While the arrangements are thick with instruments alternating in and out, and the production is excellent, Rainy’s vocals are really what commands attention. She has an incredible range and is extremely versatile, agile, and supple, not to mention frequently breathtaking. Harmonies are essential to her music, and she obviously works hard to get ’em just right.
Since these songs were written over several years, one gets a sense of Rainy’s journey from the depths of hell to experiencing love again. On “I Thought About You,” she sings, “Glass shattered on the floor /When I locked the door /You were raging war,” the brutality of the lyrics is an interesting contrast to the slow, stark acoustic guitar strumming. D’Antonio adds echoey effects to the vocals and harmonies for a metaphysical effect. “Faded Away” is about exiting a belittling relationship but still wishing the other person the best. The happier “Idaho” and “A Little Dream” signify love has returned.
Not all songs are related to a personal journey, however. The poignant “To Take His Life” was inspired by senseless killings and the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. “Lonesome Highway” is a series of vignettes of seedy characters crashing and burning, with the ending thought being you live by your decisions. By the time this review hits the page, Rainy Eyes will have already started a new chapter in her life by relocating to New Orleans, which could be advantageous for all, especially with the warmth and glow of this record.
