Rachel Kane

All In A Dream marks the second release for this unassuming Winnipeg native. In a world where Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams hold court with the critics, she deserves recognition for her soft-spoken and well-thought out approach to her elfin voice, one that marries John Prine to Marianne Faithful, which rides delicately over ten largely original tracks that are rock in spirit and often alt-country flavoured in style. All In A Dream is peppered with Canadian heroes, including Bazil Donovan (who also produces), Richard Bell and Gary Craig, and features some tantalising lead-guitar accompaniment from Mitchell Lewis. Kane's sweet rasp of a voice is well suited to the many atmospheric soundscapes created by the rich array of instrumentation (tabla, hurdy gurdy, fretless gourd banjo, toy piano, clavinet), and she rises beyond this on her own outstanding original, "Chasing Rainbows," while Mia Sheard and Anna MacDonald's background vocals further compliment Kane's lead. Kane goes a step further in recreating John Martyn's "Couldn't Love You More," her ethereal whisper of a voice capturing the soul of Martyn's original perfectly while Lewis' guitar lines up the spiritual ante. The album's final track, "Angel," distinctly recalls the songwriting of Paul Kelly, and represents another compelling reason why Kane is deserving of a much larger audience. There's something highly tasteful going on here that is undeniably sweet.