CORRINA STEEL – A FLING WITH THE KING

It is easy to run for the hills when the description “country singer” befalls an artist. Visions of designer saddle wear coupled with the glamorized, top-40 tinges of “That Nashville sound” tend to poison the reputation of country music. But Corrina Steel is not some starry-eyed Tamworth hopeful – she’s a real country singer. In that, her music comes from the small-town personal experience, has a deep grounding in the music of the earth (ie depression era blues) and she has enough grit in her voice and lyrics to take the listener on an emotionally engaging  journey. For this album, her third, she has assembled a very capable and colourful band featuring the unmistakable drumming of wildman Angus Diggs, and some welcome local guests Jason Walker and Tina Harrod. Corrina is maturing, and the gravelly gusto in her voice convinces you she’s on the right path; “when she’s going through changes you can’t keep her in chains” as she sings. There’s a political alt-country rant in Capitalist System, soul-searching soul in Alibi, and a bit of rolling madness in Wildside. Something for everyone really.

***1/2