Caitlin Rose – Own Side Now

Having released her debut EP Dead Flowers at the beginning of the year to a string of encouraging but formulaic reviews (most likened her voice to whiskey, barns, slavery and so on), young Nashvillian Caitlin Rose aims to establish herself as a country bumpkin for the electrical toothbrush age with her first full length, Own Side Now. Upon first listen the resonant, almost piercing clarity of her voice is obvious, but the record’s major victory lies with its refusal to become a mere vocal showcase.

The songwriting maintains imagination throughout; not once does she resort to naming States, lamenting the Mississippi, or any other tired country standard, leaving ample space for Rose to play and shine. It’s a soulful endeavour too, with the careful consideration given to each recording mercifully avoiding the clinical. The country genre is used as a vehicle rather than a blueprint, making Own Side Now sound a surprisingly timely release. [Mark Holland]