Joan Wasser has an impressive CV, having played in Antony & The Johnsons while more recently she has been an integral part of Rufus Wainright's backing band. As a musician she's also contributed musically to the output of the likes of Scissor Sisters, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, Sparklehorse and even Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan.

Thank goodness she's decided to strike out on her own. Now we can all hear what she's really made of. This is quite simply a stunning record, full of instantly accessible songs, blending the searing qualities of her voice with only a piano for backing, as on the title track or the rousing Eternal Flame and the spine-tingling The Ride, where her voice stops one in one's tracks.

Wasser describes her music as "American Soul Music", which for her combines a love of two vital genres: traditional soul music and punk. The mix is not immediately apparent here, but listen a few times and the description starts to make sense.