Duffy Rockferry Review
Welsh Neo-Soul Singer Brings Her Brand of Retro Pop to America
After spending weeks atop the charts in the UK and across Europe, Welsh retro soul singer Duffy releases her debut album Rockferry in North America.
Welsh singer / songwriter Duffy releases her debut album, Rockferry, in North America.
While American popular music continues to churn out the same hip hop track time and time again, UK acts, lead by the likes of Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson, and now Duffy, are returning to a neo-soul groove that sounds both refreshing and noticeably different.
Duffy’s sound is deeply rooted in the swinging sixties era of girl groups like the Supremes, the dark soul of Billie Holiday with a contemporary update. Blue eyed UK soul hasn’t had a sound this fresh and exciting since the glory days of George Michael.
Rockferry Distant Dreamer
Rockferry contains an album full of top-notch songs about broken relationships that are both enjoyable to listen to, deeply contemplative and easily relatable.
While not every track is a winner, Rockferry has many golden moments such as lead single “Mercy” a throwback to the golden age of sixties girl groups with a yeah yeah chorus and a plea to be free. Upon initial release it topped the charts in the UK for five weeks at the beginning of the year yet its timely release in North America makes it the perfect summer song.
Future single “Rockferry” creates an atmosphere rich in texture with moody lyrics and a piano-driven melody. “I move to Rockferry tomorrow, and I build my house, baby, with sorrow”, she sings to an unnamed listener, “I wouldn’t write to you, cause I’m not that kind”.
Warwick Avenue Stepping Stone
Sounding assertive and contemplative, new UK single, “Warwick Avenue”, a bluesy acoustic number that builds to a captivating climax, adds just enough jazz to win over fans of that genre.
Some tracks miss the mark such as “Syrup and Honey” but there’s more than enough material in these 12 tracks to make up for it. “Stepping Stone” a song about breaking up with a cheating partner, sways along with a slow paced guitar strum. “Scared”, a simple piano ballad feels as intimate as if reading a page from her tortured diary.
Stand out track “Distant Dreamer” comes toward the end. Conjuring up the best of Motown with a Supremes sounding beat and strings, the track builds to a chorus that has the singer contemplating the future, “I’m thinking about all the things I’d like to do in my life”, while a background of female singers sooth her on.
Duffy contains a rare combination of great looks, a knack for writing catchy tunes and a voice that seems too powerful to be contained.
The North American version of the album also contains two brilliant tracks that weren’t included in the original UK pressing, “Oh Boy” and “Save it For Your Prayers”.
Duffy is currently on tour in support of Rockferry.
