Rita Hosking

Come Sunrise Self-released****

America's a big place, sure enough, and in such a big pond it's difficult to make a meaningful splash. But for quality artists such as this Californian singer-songwriter, it must be frustrating to make such a fine album and then have to hustle it around without the help of a label.

Without the internet, Hosking’s harmonious if edgy country of real lives lived would be only a pleasure for those lucky enough to come across her in her Californian backwater. Her voice can be hard and angular, but there is also a soft humanity in her tone. The same applies to her songs, such as the perceptive and muscular Upside Down and the sensitive Hiding Place, though all 11 tracks are worthwhile. It’s no surprise that Come Sunrise has been shortlisted for Independent Country Album of the Year in the US. www.rita hosking.com

Download tracks: Upside Down, Hiding Place, Let 'Em Run