Christina Kulukundis
Album: Stars Behind Stars Behind Stars
Label: Sideshow Wonder
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.christinaband.com

It’s hard to know what to expect from a glance at artist and title of this release – that is, unless you were party to the emergence of this Worcestershire-based alt-country singer/songwriter back in 2006 (unfortunately I wasn’t, as it happens, but I’m definitely well impressed by this belated followup).

Christina was brought up between London and the US, and she writes in a fresh-toned and accessible Anglo-American style. She’s been writing songs for nearly 20 years, and draws her inspiration from everyday experiences, the highs and lows of life, though invariably managing to find a breezy, upbeat angle to things. She also has a winning way of putting her songs across – it seems quite straightforward, with little in the way of decoration or mannerism, but her warm immediacy, honest conviction and telling phrasing together ensure that the songs hit home on early acquaintance.

Although Christina’s debut album made her many friends, not least amongst critics, it would appear that the process of raising a family intervened to prevent her from capitalising on its success, but now she excitedly unleashes this new batch of songs, all but one of which were written in collaboration with her regular (for the past four years) musical companions Ben Church and Pete Bryden. These musicians intuitively flesh out Christina’s musings with sympathetic and unobtrusive guitar, banjo, dobro, harmonica, bass, piano and Hammond organ textures; she further scores by roping in Chris Leslie (fiddle), David Ogilvy (pedal steel), Ian Adams (percussion) and Alan Parker (accordion); Chris’s contributions are worthy of particular mention. The most memorable and haunting of Christina’s songs are those which embody a keen sense of place (Roberton Moor, On Deodar Road) or else breathe close and confidential (Distant Music, and the delicate Camberwell Beauty), but there’s much to savour in her other creations too – the pithy, banjo-accompanied Sweet Fruit and the late-night-jazzy title song, for instance. The only song not written by Christina (The Bitterest Lie, penned by David Ogilvy and Ben Brierley) nevertheless sits well in her company.

A gently sparkling set, then, and one which makes me want to hear more of Christina.

David Kidman