With her impressive five-track, country-rock calling card, this former Kiwi who now divides her time between her new hometown of LA and songwriting in Nashville, comes on like a less world-weary Lucinda Williams or a more rootsy Shania Twain.
It's a goodmidpoint to be at because, while her voice might not be the most distinctive, she carries these songs on the strength of her songwriting, which is right out of the southern traditions. Her seasoned regular band have the guitar jangle, mandolin and accordion thing down perfectly.
And although she might sing about the desert under the stars she hasn't forgotten her Southland roots either: the appropriately dirge-like Minnie Dean here was used as the title track for a programme in the Epitaph series. A highly convincing introduction to someone we could happily hear more from.
