KYLIE has been busy lately as she marks turning 50 in May by releasing Golden. Telly audiences may well have caught Lady Minogue on the Graham Norton Show, Sport Relief or the Saturday Night Takeaway, with old mates And and Dec.

Yet the most exclusive hot ticket was for the Golden Showcase at the Café de Paris Nightclub in Coventry Street, London, where 700 guests and long-term fan club members were introduced to an intimate preview of Kylie’s country album.

Country album? Kylie does country? Well, a little bit country. Golden was mostly recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, and it certainly has elements of country music. Nashville city is a creative hub for working musicians, and many find the environment conducive to collaboration and experimentation. Kylie obviously loved the experience, and had a part in writing all 16 tracks, Lost Without Your Love and Low Blow both being solo contributions.

Also, in contrast to her earlier Stock Aitken Waterman days, Golden features contributions from ten different producers, such as Amy Wadge, Sky Adams, DJ Fresh and Eg White (Amy Winehouse, Adele, Will Young etc), giving the album a more eclectic feel than her previous 13 studio albums.

Those fearing a return of The Impossible Princess, the one and only time Kylie strayed too far from fan expectations, need worry not. Kylie remains a rhinestone cowgirl and has certainly not forsaken her gold hot pants for gingham or denim. Yet Golden does echo Dolly Parton’s disco album, especially the lead single Dancing, Stop Me From Falling and Raining Glitter. Slightly more serious is the duet Music’s Too Sad Without You featuring Jack Savoretti.

Golden is available as a standard CD, in a 32-page book edition, on a rather gorgeous picture disc and on vinyl, as well as the now regulation but boring digital versions.

Kylie Minogue plays Leeds First Direct Arena on October 4.