Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

The latest album from Los Angeles songstress Beth Hart sees the in-demand artist team up with producer Oliver Leiber - son of legendary songwriter Jerry of Leiber and Stoller fame - for an album that mixes rootsy blues-tinged numbers with her now trademark soul ballads to good effect. Despite kicking off with the somewhat throwaway "Jazz Man" complete with ill-advised scat singing, this release once again highlights the fact that Hart is one of the top female vocalists of the current age with performances that range from Robert Plant-like power to trembling fragility with everything in between. References to her professed Christian faith are all but invisible with the likes of "Love Gangster", "Coca Cola" and the title track all sizzling with barely-veiled sexual tension and innuendo but more considered numbers such as the piano-led "No Place Like Home" and "Woman You've Been Dreaming Of" - a heart-wrenching tale of adultery told from the victim's point of view and arguably this album's highlight - show the true depth of Hart's work. As with previous releases, Hart occasionally borrows heavily from other sources - most notably Muse's version of "Feeling Good" on "Love Is A Lie" and a facsimile of Sonny & Cher's "Bang Bang" on "Baby Shot Me Down" - but there is enough individuality, skill and passion on offer to make this yet another thrilling outing from Ms Hart.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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