Muriah Rose’s Sweet Solo Sojourn

They say that behind every great man is a great woman, and in the case of Bill Mallonee and his wife Muriah Rose, that’s clearly the case. Rose has been a prominent part of the majority of Mallonee’s solo albums, no small task considering the man prodigious output. The fact that she’s responsible for so much of the flavor and texture of his windswept arrangements not only makes her invaluable as a support player, but also an artist of credence and skill all on her own. Consequently this solo outing demonstrates her obvious ability to rise to the fore and demonstrate not only her songwriting skills, but also an ability to step into the spotlight. Not surprisingly, her husband lends his support on production, engineering and all manner of fretted instruments along with underpinning the rhythms on bass and drums. Still, despite his steadfast accompaniment, there’s never any doubt that this is her moment to shine. That she does, with a set of songs teeming with heartfelt emotion and an assured stance. Opening track “Here’s to Heartbreak” sets the tone, a lovely, aching ballad that finds an upward glance in both its desire and delivery. Each of the songs that follow maintain that standard — the swaying “Lonely Road,” a lilting “”Kentucky” and the sweetest song of all, ironically entitled “Nothing.” A travelogue of sorts, Beneath the Clay not only surveys a vast western terrain but also the inner confines of the heart and the head. What a lovely, lovely narrative it is.