'Catchy tunes for country folk'... ' Tall tales for a flat land'...‘13 gems wrought on stony plains under the Southern Cross’ Raised on an outback sheep station, Hazelton hails from the one horse town of Boulder WA. Making up ‘hums’ as the barefoot kid of a station cook, then moving on to a six stringer in their trusty tin van, she never dreamt her little songs would get her to see the world, notching up 16 commissions, 11 awards and a couple of Isa Browns in a chook raffle along the way. Take a swig of country, dash of folk, mix it with essence of pop and you get a feel for her warming music. Catching tunes and throwing a line for tales of land, love and life is her stock in trade. Sipping on Slim and Smokey D, she raises the glass to Maybelle and Joy, chills with Loretta and Lucinda, gets drunk on Gillian and has a few things to sing of her own. With plenty of songs in the saddle bags, Hazelton returns to feed the muse for her fourth and latest album while living on the edge of the western desert. Beginning recording with alt country music legend Bill Chambers in New South, laying a couple more tracks at Tjuma Pulka Aboriginal radio in Kalgoorlie, then finishing off at the Apollo10 Studios in Perth with the wonderful Mark Donohoe of the Sunny Cowgirls, makes ‘The Cooks Daughter’ a truly transnational Australian music experience. Personal highlights include generous contributions from the greats such as the amazing bluegrass fiddle champion Mick Albeck, the dazzling banjo of Ian Simpson long time player for Slim Dusty, blistering harmonies from the hit machine Bernie Lynch of the Eurogliders and too many musical chops to mention from Chris Murphy of Murphy’s Lore - all infusing their distinctive flavors into this tasty bushy brew. Happy listening! A taste of the tunes … 1. THE BOSS IS IN TONIGHT: cooking up a storm on a station off the beaten track 2. MELITA STATION: a whimsy of warmth for Melita in an arcadian place and time 3. ANY MOTHER KNOWS: the heroic quiet achiever who comes thru every time 4. SUNUP SUNDOWN: from sunrise to sunset the old cook she don’t rest 5. LIVIN’ ON AIR: in praise of School of the Air - where you don't have to leave home or wear shoes 6. LITTLE RED HOUSE: an ode to the spirit of a true goldfield's woman, Norma King OAM and her little town of Gwalia 7. THE LAST WHISTLE: mines come and go but the bush is here to stay 8. DOWN IN THE VALLEY: nothing so fine as a heart for all times 9. HEARTLAND: the enduring love for the land of your heart 10. YOU ARE MY HOME: dedicated to one as certain as the rising sun 11. GOONGOON MOONGAREE: lullaby in the Wongatha Aboriginal language 12. UNDER RED SKY: when the sky breaks open the air billows red 13. THE ROUND: catching up with mates at the local races