WHERE would you be without personal misfortune? Recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and a smaller, no less dramatic household flood, Hersh has composed her strongest set of songs yet in her consistently interesting solo career.

Playing most of the instruments herself, the result is more tuneful than you would expect.

Ice is elegiac, while Under The Gun has more spirit and propulsive guitars.

Hersh's nasal voice can take a bit of getting used to, but nestled as it is here in more comforting surroundings you can focus instead on the interesting wordplay.

Christian Hearse is full of self deprecation, which may count against her in a world where egomanias such as Lily Allen reign.

It may be cold comfort, but Learn To Sing Like A Star deserves better.


Kristin Hersh plays Sheffield Leadmill on March 9