Gemma Ray is an Essex girl who mines the deepest recesses of her soul and past experiences to conjure intoxicating confessionals like these two tracks trailerring upcoming album The Leader on the label which gave the world the marvellous Seasick Steve. ‘Hard Shoulder’ manages to whip up echoes of anyone from Dot Allison with its breathy vocal to 50s New York girl groups, a gorgeous bitter-sweet love song shrouded in the sort of personal darkness which adds the compelling element. ‘Name Your Lord’ is a brighter strain of pop but still blessed with a voice which deserves to be heard amidst all the formularised rubbish around right now [and that includes singer-songwriters].
4 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
