Reviewed by Martyn Tott

This is Kate's debut album and from the quality of her songwriting I expect it's the first of many. Raised in Mississippi and Alabama, the daughter of a Baptist minister, Kate professes to showing her love of God through who she is rather than 'preaching' in her songs. You know when she starts to sing that this is the real thing... country music at its finest! Kate describes the album as her efforts to "merge history, memories and music" and she does it with great success. Her voice is as warm as the southern sun while she paints picture after picture in your mind. These songs really come alive, drawing you into the experiences. You can almost smell the old railway station in "Trains Don't Run From Nashville" or the acres of golden fields in "Bury Me In Bluegrass". It's great driving music too. Unfortunately I am usually on a grey dual carriageway in the south of England rather than a sun-baked highway in the deep south! Wherever you are though, 'Songs From The Levee' will take you as near as possible to the real country!

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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