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