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but country none the less, but as Jones' sultry voice joins in it gives it a unique and soulful edge. There is a light touch to the instrumentation on the song a touch, which characterises most of her work, and it is the spaces and the restraint of the delivery that makes the music all the more powerful. She and her band fully understand that it's not about knowing when to play, it's about knowing when not to play.

Why play 10 notes when one will do, the art is knowing which one. And if the opening track is heading off slightly down the dusty back roads to Nashville, "What Am I to You" has a totally urban, late night back room soul venue feel, almost an Aretha Franklin style number. The drum kit is allowed out to play, the guitar is plugged in and a swelling Hammond organ threatens to take over in the background.

Whilst her first album is steeped in the jazz and soul roots of her background, this album is more experimental in is sound, some might say unfocused but I prefer to think of it as a brave attempt to use a range of musical genres in the music. "Carnival Town" for example is an almost cabaret song, voice and piano pretty much take the lions share of the work with an occasional violin joining in to add atmosphere to this already highly emotive sound. "Creepin in" is pure country and just when you have got to thinking that this song would be right at home on a Dolly Parton album, the women in question pops up and the song plays through as a light weight duet between the Queen of Country and the Jack of All Trades.

There are no massive stand out tracks in the sense of songs that are going to be buzzing around your head for hours after listening to the CD ("Sunrise" being a possible exception) its not really that sort of album. It is a mix of delicately crafted light and shade and is content to create background mood rather that impose itself upon the listener.

Many have criticised this album as being a bite of a pop-light version of the first album but both albums have their merits, both stand well together as a body of work and both just ooze with emotion. Its never going to be the album you put on getting read to go out on a Friday night, its more of a Sunday afternoon chill out, but then where is the harm in that, it is still a worthy addition to you record collection.

Learn more about this author, Dave Franklin.
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