Rita Hosking “Come Sunrise” (Independent, 2009)

Superb country folk from a brilliant singer/songwriter

This third album from Californian singer/songwriter Hosking hearkens to the likes of Gillian Welch and Rachel Harrington in its simple, straightforward delivery of folk songs leavened with a touch of bluegrass, country and old time Americana. Recorded in Austin, Texas with a top notch selection of musicians including Lloyd Maines and Robert Earle Keen guitarist Rich Brotherton (who produced the album) this is a bit of a treasure trove with a wealth of great songs and great delivery. Dobro, pedal steel, fiddle and banjo adorn the songs while Hosking’s vocal delivery is strong and emotionally captivating with a hint of Natalie merchant about it.
With eleven self penned songs it’s difficult to select any particular ones as stand outs as they are all uniformly good. There are tales of alcohol fuelled knife fights (Montgomery Creek Blues), historical oddities (Little Joe, about a cowgirl who passed herself as a male) and the baloney that is passed as received wisdom from the media (Holier Than Thou). Hosking’s lyrics hit the spot everytime and the songs sound as if they’ve always been here, a sure-fire sign that she has hit the songwriter’s motherlode.
While each and every song here has excellent country backings there are moments when producer Brotherton dons electric guitar to great effect. “Hiding Place” has a slow burning slide as Hosking sings of a girl’s fear of a Windigo, a malevolent spirit. “Upside Town” ditches totally the acoustic setting as the band rock out on a biblical apocalyptic rant, which starts with

“Jesus said he’s going to Texas/He told me last night in a dream/And when he gets himself to Texas/He’s gonna knock down the church doors with his love.”

The overall impression one gets from this album is that of a very talented artist with the ability to step up to that pantheon of great female country folk singers and writers. Highly recommended.

Date review added:  Monday, January 11, 2010
Reviewer:  Paul Kerr
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