Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Written for the most part in Nashville, it's somewhat fitting that Sheffield-based singer/songwriter Philippa Hanna has gone for a country approach on her latest release. It's a brave move given the success of the dance-tinged potential chart material found on her excellent previous album 'Speed Of Light' but Hanna, being the consummate artist she is, pulls off this metamorphosis with style and skill. Proceedings get off to a punchy start with the stomping title track - a declaration of survival, defiance and resilience - setting the scene for an album containing songs that deal with everyday issues which, thanks to Hanna's innate songwriting ability, seem to get alongside the listener and help him or her see the wood for the trees. Themes such as being tolerant to others and handing your dreams and ambitions over to God are handled with care in "Getting On With Life" and "Let 'Em Fly" respectively whilst the bluegrass-tinged single "Off The Wagon" - complete with a memorable guitar solo from Roo Walker and a Dolly Parton-like vocal from Hanna - tell something of the singer's faith in God during tougher times. Backed by a delightfully rootsy band (the occasional banjo, mandolin and lap steel make an appearance), Hanna's voice just gets better and better and her performance on an incredibly poignant reading of the Elvis hit "Always On My Mind" is up there with the best. A contemporised cover of the country stalwart "I Saw The Light" is also included and may divide opinion - to me, it seems to bulldoze away the feel and charm of the Hank Williams original despite its undeniably accomplished delivery - but this does not detract in any way from the sheer quality found on yet another great release from the versatile Ms Hanna.

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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