Coco Hames

Coco Hames

Countryish jangle-pop with a pleasingly menacing side. Nashvillebased Hames is an interesting woman. She fronted garage-rock combo The Ettes, touring with Kings Of Leon and The Black Keys; after that, she co-owned a vintage store/record label/ petting zoo (yup), then became a Montessori teacher, offering sing-alongs to preschoolers. But when a ballad was featured on country drama Nashville, it all took off. This solo debut sits her ripe, occasionally darkly brooding voice – Rachel Sweet with a hatchet – against grungey country and knowing ’60s vibes. When You Said Goodbye shimmers with Hollies-style rainbows of power chords; bass and electric harpsichord shade the bubblegum-fuzz of If You Ain’t Mine into something vengeful; Dead River, with its stalkerish pace and eerie lyrics, has a Tallahatchie Bridge feel. I Don’t Wanna Go, a satisfying Ramones thrash, sums things up: “Watch yourself and think twice/’Cos I don’t play very nice.” Which can only be good.