Gemma Ray
Album: Island Fire
Label: Bronzerat
Tracks: 14
Website: www.myspace.com/gemmaraymusic

"Island Fire" is as good a piece of acoustic pop as you're going to hear in a while. There is a tinge of darkness, not quite enough to give the album a fully fledged pop-noir sound, but more than enough to give it plenty of edge. Ray actually plays with an 8" blade holstered in the bridge of her guitar, just to make sure you get that edge.

It may just be theatrics, but it certainly focuses the mind and singles out Gemma Ray as something that little bit different. If it was a purely visual thing you might dismiss it as purely a gimmick, but she carries that attitude and originality into her songs, never quite giving a you a full picture or single perspective.

Essex born Gemma Ray, is currently based in Berlin and that may for a slightly Euro sound, which provides an interesting counterpoint to Gemma's voice, which has the clarity of a torch singer and with a similar emotional quotient. It allows her to describe a mood that may or may not be the same as the words.

It's a full blown heavily orchestrated album, with a orchestra that includes a Theremin. It's used to great effect, layering down tones and textures to work against in a similar way to Sparks when they were at their best. Sparks isn't an accidental reference, as a bonus at the end of the album, Gemma Ray sings two Sparks covers with Sparks, which makes it all the more remarkable that she manages to make the songs sound like she owns them.

"Fire House" is one of the best examples of her work on the album. It sort of swirls around your head, whipping up a maelstrom of a song that just keeps working in a way that's similar to the "Fire Leap" does in "The Wickerman", but in a far more contemporary style.

This is an album of strong, powerful pop songs. She's playing the HMV Next Big Thing at SXSW let's hope it proves to be prophetic for one thing is certain, Gemma Ray has the talent to go a long way.

Neil King