“CURVE OF THE EARTH” Kate Steele (self released) *** ½
Here is the charming debut of a folk/ alt country artist from Victoria- and proof that you don’t need a record label or a big studio to make great music.

I attended Kate’s CD release party in Victoria in September and heard “Curve” live before listening to the CD- save for the disarming stories on stage in between songs, it’s the same experience. With Kate Steele, what you see (and hear) is what you get.

Recorded in the tiny studio at Gord’s Music, “Curve Of The Earth” is about life. Steele’s acoustic guitar is simple and fresh, her voice light and engaging, and Jonty Jervis Parker’s violin playing is mournful and uplifting at the same time. The supporting cast, including producer Gord Pendleton, breathe life into Steele’s music without hogging the attention. This is like Joni Mitchell crossed with my favorite Bruce Cockburn stuff.

Just another chick with a guitar? I suppose- but when you hear lines like “the first time that I told you that I love you/ we were listening to Dylan/ and I was talking to him” you have to appreciate the way she looks around the corners.

I can’t listen to this all the time, but there will be (and already have been) times when nothing else will do the trick.
KEY CUTS: “Trouble”, “Railway Breeze”, “Wayward King”