Mireille Mathlener
Album: Borrowed Land
Label: Stella maris
Tracks: 11
Website: www.myspace.com/sweetsweetliesmusic

There are always plenty of pretenders (sorry) to Chrissie Hynde's specific style. It's easy to lose count of the number of female vocalists who have been measured against one of the best singers ever heard but Mireille Mathlener is the closest to be labelled this way that a DNA test might not be a bad idea.

While I wouldn't normally pay much attention to anything labelled 'country rock' I couldn't help myself with this one. Mathlener looks more rock than country and the darkly intense album cover for 'Borrowed Land' was more than an enticement. So what's it all about then? '

Borrowed Land' is Mathlener's second album and one of the best Bristol based artists heard. Originally hailing from the Netherlands, Mathlener has called Britain home for a good few years and sites many of our classic rock and rollers as an influence including the Rolling Stones and The Kinks. Influenced or not, anyone who can produce a beauty like 'Black Dress' deserves a hug and a warm handshake. A repetitive bass line and moody lyrics make it catch and stick in your ears so much that it becomes as familiar as your heartbeat.

'New Place to Run' is where it becomes more country-ish but not enough to make line dancing your new hobby. Mathlener's likeness to Hynde breaks out on this track and the gruff but gentle, exaggerated but perfected vocals give the song (and plenty of others) their edge over anyone close to her.

The comparisons will be easy to make but don't let the threat of a copycat cloud your judgement. Country rock is obviously where it's at and Mireille Mathlener is the lady leading the charge. 'Borrowed Land' will claim a warm corner of your heart and set up camp for a long time to come.

Emma Sutherland
http://emmasutherland.posterous.com