There's always a place for strong songs, well sung and played and Julian Dawson's "Hillbilly Zen", his fifteenth and latest album is one of these. It's different from anything he's done before here you'll find bluegrass, country music, soul ballads, blues and even rockabilly - all self-penned too. Who better to help him do it right than ex-Byrd Gene Parsons, one of Dawson's 'musical heroes', Parsons plays acoustic and electric Stringbender guitars, banjo, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, drums and percussion, spoons, bass, harmonica, hi-strung guitar and harmony vocals. The result is an excellent 'americana' album from Londoner Dawson.