Beth Rowley - Little Dreamer

Rating:

* * * *

Beth Rowley has got soul. And not in that modern pop-soul revival sort of way (a la Winehouse, Duffy and Adele). The petite blonde from Bristol may look like just another pop star, but her sultry, silken voice has the depth and authenticity of a classic jazz chanteuse.

When she sings the traditional blues standard

Nobody's Fault But Mine

, you can feel the sticky heat of America's deep south wash over you. With a similar sound and languid tempo to

House of the Rising Sun

, the song builds to a powerful crescendo, as Rowley is joined by a full gospel chorus line.

Elsewhere, Rowley transports listeners to another time altogether.

So Sublime

and

Oh My Life

are sugary 60s soul, balanced by the deep squelch of a baritone sax, while

Almost Persuaded

moves to the smoky basement of a 1940s piano jazz bar. It all makes for an intense, interesting and involved listening experience.

Until you hit Rowley's cover of Willie Nelson's

Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground

with Duke Special. Sounding like a limp Christmas carol, it taints the otherwise superb record with an unpleasant aftertaste.

The mis-step seems to unbalance Rowley, as she purrs the intro of

You Never Called Me Tonight

- what should be a bitter blues ballad about a wronged lover - with all the conviction of a pussycat.

Joanna Hunkin