Ellen And The Escapades
Album: All The Crooked Scenes
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.ellenandtheescapades.com

It is an unfortunate truth that when the market gets crowded you have to try that much harder to make people aware of your goods. Even if they do notice, they have to be noticeably better than those around them, particularly if you've got a certain quality when others around you may have invested in packaging and marketing.

There are a plethora of female singer songwriters in the acoustic pop arena, particularly where it crosses over into the Americana market, it's tough out there at the moment, which is a little unfortunate as there's a lot of good talent that seems to be missing out on the attention they deserve, especially given the lack of mainstream media and shows giving it airspace, well there are talent shows on at the moment.

Fortunately in the three odd years that they've been going, Ellen And The Escapades have fought hard to get noticed. Appearances at Glastonbury, Reading And Leeds and on BBC Radio 1, 2 & 6 have given them a springboard to launch their debut album, "All The Crooked Scenes" and a damn fine job they've made of it.

In a world where people are able to buy single tracks off an album, it's vital that you deliver strong songs from track one all the way through to sign off, in this case, track twelve, Ellen And The Escapades certainly do that. There's a whole host of influences that you can feel coming through across the album ranging from an indie Dolly Parton on one edge through to the likes of Texas and KT Tunstall on the other.

"All The Crooked Scenes" is an album that feels really together, even though it's a debut it reeks of confidence, almost to the point of shouting "HERE I AM, NOW LISTEN". Then with a real sense of drive, the band deliver an album that lives up to the shout. Rich in riffs, at times almost anthemaic, there are a couple of songs I found myself singing along to by the second chorus.

At times this felt more like being at a gig, there's a mosh pit energy about the album, more importantly there's also a realisation that the best gigs aren't one based. There are those slower numbers that give you a chance to get your breath back before returning to the fray. I enjoyed it, fingers crossed it reaches the audience it deserves.

Neil King