Texas Platters

Robyn Ludwick

She's called her fourth effort Little Rain, but don't expect rainbows. Robyn Ludwick, sister in the songwriting Robison clan of Bandera, lays her heart into her songs, whether about a young girl who's been molested on "Longbow, OK" or some bastard's obvious second choice on "She'll Get the Roses." The vignettes are as vivid as any in her past and there's an obvious musical kinship with producer/multi-instrumentalist Gurf Morlix, who also produced 2011's Out of These Blues. And yet, except for opener "Longbow, OK" and Lucinda Williams-esque roots rocker "Somethin' Good," Little Rain plays out unremittingly grim. "Breaks My Mind" brings a sleepy type of contemporary blues, and closer "Stalker" sounds as harrowing as its subject matter. Those searching for a glimmer of hope are advised to look elsewhere.