The back cover of the album booklet shows a picture of a sign that says “We are changing the way we do business” and indeed they are. After a high profile dispute with their record label, which has been resolved with an own label compromise, The Dixie Chicks go back to basics. For this album, recorded during the enforced label lay-off, is a return to the acoustic bluegrass tinged music the band started out with.

There is not an electric guitar, drum track or keyboard in sight. This is not the music that made them famous. But then times have changed and so have they. Post September 11 and after the success of the O Brother soundtrack, people may well want something more down to earth, more truthful.

Natalie Maine’s distinctive and powerful vocals are still at the forefront and are equally at home in this acoustic setting as they were with the big sound of yore, but the instrumental talents of her partners Martie Maguire and Emily Robison are brought into equal focus.

The songs are still grounded in strong choruses and tangible hooks. From the opening ‘Long Time Gone’, through ‘Travellin’ Soldier’, to the self-written vibrant ‘White Trash Wedding’ they show a thoughtful approach to the choice of songs and writers.

Wisely, the album closes on the six minute plus ‘Top Of The World’ which takes on a different tempo and sound, opening with their voices in harmony, before bringing in a string quartet which widens out the song to provide a memorable closer.

So this Home may not be where radio’s heart is, but it is never-the-less a pretty good place to return to if you are looking for some warmth.