It’s ironic, but it's no longer surprising that the Americana moniker fits Australia’s Kasey Chambers to a tee. She’s been at it for over a decade now — often, as on this tour, with dad Bill Chambers on board — and while her focus may shift a bit from one album to the next, she’s got a groove that doesn’t quit and a solid crew to help keep it that way.
Little Bird (Sugar Hill), her latest release (and the first she’s produced for herself) includes “Beautiful Mess,” an award-winning composition that exemplifies what’s best about that groove, starting with lightly strummed mandolin and a melody that just gets catchier as the drums and then a full band jump in behind her. Electric guitar, bass and drums are pretty constant, but there’s plenty of fiddle, banjo and mandolin — and those elegantly simple melodies and progressions — to keep the country flavors coming through.
— Jon Weisberger