Allison Russell - In the Hour of Chaos

Allison Russell's third studio record, In the House of Chaos, emerges as an incandescent illumination of hope and "connection in this time of alienation, isolation and dread," she says in a press statement. That's never more clear than with the shiny opener, "Rainbows," a celebratory acknowledgement of how joy is an ever-present phenomenon even in times of trouble. "It's not easy sometimes to keep our seven colors in your mind," she sings with a strawberry-tipped sweetness.

In her crusade for connection, Russell enlists a who's who of Americana music. Joy Oladokun and Julie Williams dance in the soft groove of "No Springtime," while Brittney Spencer lets her voice flutter upward in "Black Lavender," an enveloping expression of compassion. "Let me get my arms 'round you," Spencer sings. Even Norah Jones finds her way onto the record with acoustic-led "Really Real," in which she and Russell confess their commitment to be a "shelter from the storm."

With the world, particularly the U.S., in a constant state of disarray, In the Hour of Chaos encourages the listener to set aside their anxieties and distress for 11 songs of feel-good stories sure to re-center and re-energize the vitality of living. "In these times, feeling good is a radical act," Russell adds in her album commentary.

Ruby Amanfu tenderly caresses the melody of "Just Like Saturday," a smoldering cut about working through the rubble to rise again like a phoenix. "We can build a dream again," Amanfu and Russell vow. Percussion palpitates, twisting the strings into a great fabric.

"I know that you see me struggling," Russell sings in "Love is a Golden Lion," a glorious romp that feeds the album's destiny of ultimate optimism amidst a flurry of depressing headlines and even more devastating social media posts. That energy functions as a necessary gateway to reclaim our happiness and zest for the things in life that matter most: human connection. Through pain that feels endless, In the House of Chaos engages with the parts of ourselves that have been buried and abandoned.

"Two Stars," featuring Chibueze Ihuoma, rises and falls with a subdued electricity. It's a moody focal point that guides the listener into the album's final stretches of reflection. "Nothing's getting better, babe," they sing, before drawing the listener close for eye-to-eye intimacy and renewal.

When "Good Omens" comes around, Allison Russell immerses you in gentle, lapping waves of celestial strings. The song's soothing intro prepares the listener for a more angelic and soul-clinging moment, a collaboration with Ahya Simone. It's a perfect, rose-colored ending for a record that carries a deeper meaning these days—finding the things and people who make us happy has never been more vital to our collective sanity.

In the Hour of Chaos doesn't ignore our very brutal reality, but it offers a way out and through the contamination that sticks to our brains. It's not an easy task to let the news melt away, yet within Russell's masterful tapestry, we can at least log off for a brief moment and find ourselves again.

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