Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

A seven track mini album from an Australian singer/songwriter with a knack for pulling together a number of different musical influences. Sharyn Bothe has created a fresh pop sound tinged with jazziness and a few ethnic sounds. Built around her voice (sounding a little like Kale Bush here and there) and her incredible piano playing, best when in full jazzy swing, there is much here lo enjoy. "(I Never Hand Much To) Confess" which opens proceedings is built on a Keith Green-style piano riff and has a nice lyrical twist. The title song has a sophisticated jazzy groove in a sub Steely Dan style and sonic great guitar from Andrew Denny. "You Are My Strength" is psalm-like lyrically and highlights Sharyn's impressive piano playing along with some nice percussive touches. "The Child Wife" is a sad story set lo compelling acoustic jazz. "The Believed" is a poetic poignant tale of a marriage relationship broken down beautiful in its understatement, just acoustic piano and bass and a selection of strings. And that's what I like about this recording, the different flavours brought lo the songs. "Aborigine" is jazz flavoured rock with some ethnic Australian sounds added but the recording closes with Sharyn returning to her fluent piano playing on "Life". Overall a delightful mini album and a welcome change to so much over produced pop.

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