Curwood is a Kiwi song bird whose sound here has an alt-rock/American roots folk slant.

The Blind EP was recorded in Dunedin and is infused with the introversion of that city, featuring musical contributions from producer Dale Cotton and even Mr Verlaine, Graeme Downes on one track out of the five here.

Great attention has been paid to getting an interesting and vivid instrumental background to these songs. One suspects that Cotton was really experimenting with the audio possibilities of the studio to get eerie transpositions of different instruments, both acoustic and electric.

But centre stage is Curwood and her striking vocals. She has the same trilling, high voice of another Dunedin notable from the ’80s, Jay Clarkson, with a bit more of an intimate whisper that makes her sound like she’s resting on the pillow next to yours.

EPs are difficult things. Popular in NZ, presumably due to budgetary constraints, five songs just isn’t long enough to really gauge Curwood’s songwriting potential. Definitely, however, one of the best in its genre from these shores in some time. GARY STEEL

SOUND: 3.5  MUSIC: 3.5