British singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams has drawn comparisons to Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell, paid tribute to Drake and Lee Hazlewood, and recorded with British legend John Martyn. Yet, she’s more easily accessible than any of them. The Quickening, her seventh solo album, was recorded over four days, a virtual luxury for this often hand-to-mouth troubadour. Her voice is an instant attraction and her songwriting packs great depth. “Black Oil” has a noir drama cycling underneath its simple piano chords. “Just Leave” shuffles with a sense of the inevitable shouldering its nearly mirthful melody. “There Are Keys” adds ambient tones to its dark ambitions. “Noble Guesses” could be a well-adjusted Americana singer-songwriter winging it through Middle America. Kathryn Williams is a captivating talent; her appeal is simple, yet most rewarding over many listens. “Winter Is Sharp” is stripped-down and straightforward but the melody burns on long after it ends. “Nothing to Offer” sways as if it didn’t have a care in the world. If only the truth could be that simple.