Album: Secondhand Dreaming
Artist: Melissa Otto
Label: Independent
Sounds like: Kate Rusby

This is a cute little album, and the sleeve images of a songbird being released from a cage are appropriate, if a little obvious. Like a little bird, her voice fl its around delicately, with only a light dusting of keyboards, acoustic guitars or deep, lowing cello providing accompaniment, so the songs seem like spiritual lullabies. And the bluegrass rhythm of "Goodbye old man" is the only one to pick up the pace. At times it feels like she's twisting lines to fi t the music— it's not seamless—but this can seem as much motif as mistake, and lends to the individuality. It's a "quiet night in," rather than "big night out," album, but is all the better for its restraint, allowing her voice to shine its little light.  

Nicks rating: 3/5