Kasey Chambers is a huge star back in her native Australian where Wayward Angel, her third album, entered the national pop charts at number one, and stayed there for five consecutive weeks.

So is Kasey about to become the new Shania? Well, probably not, although she is still a formidable talent. The title track and her ode to Hollywood are especially strong narrative songs.

As a wordsmith, Chambers touches on personal, heartfelt issues, which will endear her to audiences who favour their Country handled by the more serious likes of Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith in preference to Rhinestone Cowgirls. But vocally, she owes more than a nod of recognition to Cyndi Lauper, which gives her a pop cross-over edge.

Wayward Angel is a lovely album, and well worth investigating, but lacks the killer pop melodies which have made international stars of Shania Twain and the irrepressible Dolly Parton.

Updated: 11:06 Thursday, May 12, 2005