Label: A&M
Release Date: 03/03/08
Rating:
Amid the year's worth of attention she's about to receive, Duffy will no doubt tire of being compared to Amy Winehouse. Of course, she is indebted to the same soul diva tradition, but there's something about her voice that is more real. It seems warmer, partly because the delivery is less affected: she keeps things simple without resorting to those monosyllabic tendencies of Ms Winehouse's that can veer towards Mariah Carey style showboating. This is a singer who knows that less is more. The same is also true of the production; never over-fussy but letting the song do the work. When the sound does approach the Spector-esque, as for 'Distant Dreamer', it creates the sort of cushioned wall of sound that is a comfort to the ear as opposed to one that is so dense it threatens to collapse under the strain of its own bombast. Such is the feel of the album – relaxed, easy going, an arm around your shoulder when the blues come knocking.
This is a retro collection, and that's the point – good songs that connect to the great songwriting traditions of the past. Echoes of the Sixties can be heard throughout, whether in the form of 'Heard It Through The Grapevine' ('Hanging On Too Long'), 'Walk On By' ('Stepping Stone') - the tribute to the decade is paid in full, and current single 'Mercy' will have people swinging their pants for months to come. Proving her versatility, albeit within the confines of soul, Duffy sings the blues on a candlelit veranda for 'Syrup And Honey' and nods respectfully to Gabrielle for both 'Warwick Avenue' and 'Scared', thus reminding us that she is a child of our time.
Such is her talent, and the power of her voice, that she doesn't have to try too hard. Whereas her compatriots will squeeze the last remnants of soul through their windpipe as if suffering from a nasty bout of food poisoning, and others sound detached or downright scary, Duffy's is the voice of reassurance. If you don't buy this album, by the end of the year you'll be familiar with half the tracks thanks to continuous airplay on TV and radio.
Richard Stokoe
Duffy Official Site
Duffy Myspace
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