big

The first full album by Australia's premier folk-pop group is an astonishingly mature affair. The three-woman trio known as the Bluehouse developed a huge following in four years of local gigs and touring, and was able to fund the production and manufacture of the CD entirely by pre-release sales — an astonishing feat. The fans got their money's worth here, with a collection of stylistically varied material that is beautifully performed and recorded. The three women in the band have gorgeous voices, and the sometimes jazzy, sometimes folksy arrangements suit them perfectly. The general quality is so high that it's hard to pinpoint standout tracks. From the beautiful, wistful folk of "Crying" to the jazz/soul workout of "Last Name," this band can handle just about anything in high style. The production is impeccable, the material excellent — in short, Big is a must-have album for anyone who likes bold acoustic music with lots of style and character. Note: There are at least two other bands with very similar names, one of which is also an all-female trio, but based in the San Francisco Bay area.