Canadian blues singer and professor of ethnomusicology Kat Danser first appeared on these pages three years ago, when she released her previous album Goin 'Gone. This week sees the release of the follow-up One Eye Open, and once again this new album isn't exactly a chore for the average blues fan to listen to. Opening track Way I Like It Done is a nice, chunky boogie featuring a fine horn section, and there’s plenty more where that came from further down the line.

It’s also worth noting that this album is a bit more varied than its predecessor. The opening tracks might lean towards Chicago blues, but on Frenchman Street Shake we head off to New Orleans, while Get Right Church has an emphatic Delta Blues vibe and Mi Corazon a touch of Tex-Mex. I’m not complaining, mind you, because Danser nails all these different genres with flair and precision, for the most part. The only tune that really doesn’t work is the title track. I can only guess what led to the decision to add some punk rock to this bluesy mix, but the result sounds forced and lacks conviction. In this day and age we’ve got bands like Screaming Females or The Coathangers to scratch that kind of itch, and this track doesn’t come anywhere near their level. Other than that, however, One Eye Open is a more than fine blues record.