Annie Keating

This is Keating's sixth independent release over the last ten years, and she has already established an impressive catalogue of folk laden Americana. Here she works again with Jason Mercer as co-producer. The album was recorded at a studio near Brooklyn, not far from Keating's home, and there is a sense of warm homecoming about the affectionate reflections on the opening Coney Island.

The album was recorded pretty much over one weekend, with the likes of Trina Hamlin on harmonica and percussion and Chris Tarrow on guitars. But rather than sounding rushed, Make Believing has a feel of space and time. Nature once again features heavily with autumn skies and indian suns shining on the delicate Foxes, with its gentle acoustic strums beautifully augmented by electric guitar strokes. Just Up Ahead is similar in tone with a more haunting bass, as Keating dreams of "a song that will hit the charts" to buy a bigger house.

You get the impression though that charts are really the last thing from Keating's mind. She seems perfectly contended with her lot and it's reassuring to hear someone sounding so happy and confident in what they are doing.