Jolie Holland: Escondida

Reviewed by RUSSELL BAILLIE

Herald rating: * * * *

She might be a singer-songwriter from Texas with a quiet disposition and country-blues inflections but don't mistake Jolie Holland for the next Norah Jones.

Her second album - after a home-recorded earlier offering Catalpa - is way too creepy, weird and earthy for comfy listening.

Nick Cave thought so - he helped her to get signed to his label which led to the release of this.

It's a gripping affair, from the moment Holland's sad sweet voice floats in over the jazz guitar swing of Sascha to when it heads for the hills on the lament Faded Coat of Blue at the close.

In between, Holland and her backers sound like they've been rattling around in Tom Waits' toolshed to nail together the spare arrangements which neatly fit songs that are variously odes to ancient narcotics (Old Fashioned Morphine), the town weirdo (Mad Tom of Bedlam) or Holland's favourite instrument (Darlin' Ukulele).

An album that offers yet more proof that it's the quiet ones you have to watch.

(Shock)