Reviews

Georgia Duncan
Album: Four Ways To The Sun
Label: Clonmell Jazz Social
Tracks: 10
Website: https://www.georgiaduncan.co.uk/

Georgia Duncan is a vocalists and song-writer from London who is releasing this, her début album, in September following on from an EP in 2021. As well as that she has also led community based music workshops and choirs and developing sensory and body led singing sessions for some time. Her aim is let people create what's inside them rather for the enjoyment of sound and expression. Interestingly, that reflects here. She says she didn't set out originally to create an album, only realising after the songs arrived that they represented a particular time and turn of mind. This gives a commonality that's explored well. 'Four Ways To The Sun' is a gentle sounding album that flows well and drifts through the body, but is capable of sending emotions in different directions. Broadly falling under the heading of "love songs" the ten tracks explore various aspects of that condition.

"Reasons" explores every aspects of love, how emotions can shift and change, being either a curse or a blessing. Georgia's voice is beautifully modulated, resonant but soothing and there's some very impressive backing from the band of Harry Christelis (guitar), Yusuf Ahmed (drums) and Ruth Goller whose bass underpins the track It has a slightly blues / jazz feel to it that draws the listener in.

"If I Asked" looks at the way love grows and how sometimes people have to open and request change happens. Should you let things happen or try to move the pace along? What effect does that have on the other person? The impressive thing about this song is the changes in tone and rhythm. It starts with a simple guitar backing but the swells with percussion and backing vocals before dropping back again. Through all that it's Georgia's lovely voice that carries it.

There's good range in the tracks. "Linger" opens with a rather buzzing, ponderous bass that has almost a feeling of danger to it. That bass really reflect that love isn't all sweetness and light and reflects the doubts and mood shifts that can come in a relationship as you start to question yourself. There's also some sizzling guitar that has an edge to it and the percussion adds greatly to the sound. It's a very good track.

This is an impressive full début album. It has a feel to it, not always leaving the listener in a comfortable place and wondering what's going to come next. "Mud, Slick and Feather" does just that. Opening with a capella harmony it could be a quieter gospel song with only the lightest touches of guitar.

'Four Ways To The Sun' has a launch date of 19th September as a CD, download or album. Platforms weren't available at the time of writing.

Tony Birch

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