Out of the Ashes – Shelley Morningsong (SilverWave Records) www.ShelleyMorningsong.com

A few issues back my colleague Kaufman compiled a set of reviews of Native American artists but left this CD for me, thinking it’s less ‘authentic’ and probably more my sort of thing. Less authentic? In some ways it’s more so, because Shelley Morningsong is reflecting life in the culture of the USofA now, having naturally absorbed a range of its music influences to sing her songs of spirit and protest in honour of her heritage. Which, I guess from this perspective, makes more sense than adhering to some idea of a past, kept in a glass case.

This is big diva music in the tradition of Tina Turner meets Annie Lennox meets Joan Baez. Like such women, Shelley has huge passion, and something to say about wrongs to be righted, and how the perceived underdog often has spirit in spades. There’s a bit of blues influence here and there, as well as the dominant Native American elements, but essentially this is big, bold rock’n’roll – and mostly it works for me, except for the fact that generally I can’t stand Tina Turner or rock ballads. But I acknowledge I’m in the minority here, and because of the healthy variety of styles on this CD I don’t have to skip too much.

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