Let's jump straight to the thing. Unless you're a doyen of home-bred mid-western americana, you've likely never heard of Samantha Crain. Put that right straight away, this is a record with several good reasons to get more than familiar. First, there's an immense degree of emotional pull. Coupled with grandiose and spacious tunes like 'Religious Wind', and we're onto a thing worth sitting up for. Add one more essential element; Samantha's voice, sounding like it was recorded in a hall of mirrors, and we're standing up in our seats and shouting.

 

It's a remarkable combination that turns what might have been a merely good record into a keeper. At times she's more than merely reminiscent of Jolie Holland, her voice has the same addictive quality. Elsewhere I swear she's Kate Nash's transatlantic cousin, it's what I can only describe as some witch's brew of folk and britpop.

 

Let's be fair though, Samantha is no chameleon of convenience; everything is assuredly straight from the heart of this Oklahoma girl. Cut her in half like seaside rock and she's the convincing and genuine article right the way through.

 

To keep the best till last is the stand-out track 'Santa Fe'. This was nominated for best folk song for the Indian Summer Music Awards earlier this year and you can see why. I haven't heard a call / response duet quite this affecting in years, that banjo could be strung to your heart. Samantha's voice is at it's most vowel-bending and soul rending, like the Be Good Tanyas on their classic Lakes Of Pontchartrain. I'm sat here listening to this; the tale of loss is almost making me cry and I can't seem to turn it off.

 

It's not brilliance all the way - penultimate track 'Two-Sidedness' feels on the verge of rocky clunkiness, which is a pity when the swirling close is so strong. As a whole though the record more than merits a trip into your headphones.

 

Oh, and by the way, she's touring in the UK through November in support of Ade Edmonson.