Casey Dienel, the 22-year-old singer songwriter form Massachusetts released her debut album back in 2006 but found that something was missing. Just as Elton John needed a lyricist and boy bands need writers, producers, stylists, set designers, session musicians and Louis Walsh, Casey drafted in three extra bandmates to form White Hinterland with Matthew Jean-Paul, Maximillian Haft and Chris Macdonald duly completing the line up. The result is the understated nine-track album Phylactery Factory recorded in Portland, Oregon with producer Adam Selzer.This is very much Casey Dienel's project though, and her voice can be so soft and so delicate, it is like she is whispering some top secret information to you without wanting to attract the wrong kind of attention. Thankfully the music doesn't overshadow her voice too much, even complimenting each other beautifully on 'A Beast Washed Ashore' for example. I found myself walking home from the pub late one evening listening to this song with no one around and the stars out, I forgot where I was.Phylactery Factory has a few other emotive songs like 'Calliope' and album opener 'The Destruction of the Art Deco House' but the Jazz-lounge Regina Spektor esque 'Dreaming of the Plum Trees' and fast-paced tempo of 'Napoleon at Waterloo' bring something different to the mix. Casey's lyrics create stories, characters and images rather than hide behind obscure meanings and metaphors, though through the nature of her delivery, they aren't always audible on first listen. 'Hometown Hooray' is a tip of the cap to the troops in Iraq giving a 'whole town parade when you come home' because 'no one wants to believe you died in vain'. While 'Lindberghs + Metal Birds' also has political, anti-war undertones.There are plenty of encouraging signs from Phylactery Factory that would make me seek out future records from this fledgling band. The current fashion for female singers could even lead to a bit of exposure for Casey Dienel & Co, which would be justified and with time to develop and evolve, White Hinterland should realise the potential they have to be a wonderful band. 73%mp3:> White Hinterland - Dreaming Of The Plum TreesLinks White Hinterland [myspace]