Rockferry

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Rockferry, the Welsh singer's lovingly constructed debut album, has already succeeded beyond expectations, and although Duffy may not quite be the ingénue portrayed by a clever press campaign (she nearly won a local television talent show a few years back while a single credited to Aimee Duffy is still available on iTunes) she is surely the most appealing of the current flood of young soul sirens. The astonishing title track, co-written by Bernard Butler, sounded like a lost transmission that had taken decades to get through as soon as it hit radio last year. But the gently rolling soul ballad "Stepping Stone", that strapping, inescapable monster hit "Mercy", the ice cool "Serious" (the one time she really does channel the spirit of Dusty Springfield) and the wistful, elegant "Warwick Avenue" are similarly effective. Suggestions by some that Rockferry is little more than sixties pastiche are churlish. Butler's previous work with David McAlmont (featured here as a backing singer) showed his skill at writing and arranging the dramatic, while her other collaborators such as Steve Booker and the team of Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White are hardly lightweights. But despite some wonderful orchestral settings, it's Duffy's terrific voice that makes this so satisfying, even overpowering Butler's exquisitely underplayed guitar work on "Rockferry" itself. Growling the blues on "Syrup & Honey" or belting it out over his lovingly arranged wall of sound on "Distant Dreamer", she sets the tone throughout, several of her songs dealing with escape, both physical and romantic. The sound of someone singing herself to stardom, Rockferry is at times genuinely amazing. Steve Jelbert

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Customer reviews

review by: Keith Darlington date: 2008-07-01 rating:
Duffy - Pure Class
Duffy is probably the best R&B singer to come from these shores in a long long time. This album is phenomenal. Every track seems to accentuates her vocal range. The musicians supporting her are also very worthy of recognition. I particularly like the unique drum tuning on Mercy and the 60's keyboard playing. The tracks themselves vary but are all interesting: but I doubt that anyone could render them as well as she does. This album is one of the best that I have heard for a long time. A definite buy recommendation.

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review by: thorstenkrings2 date: 2008-06-25 rating:
Excellent
It's a great debut album. Duffy has the perfect voice for the 60s retro soul she chose for this album. The songs are very good, particularly the lyrics. There is something unspoken and something illicit about the meeting at Warwick avenue. Why do these people meet there? What is the story? We can only guess but the emotions are real. The only drawback for me is that there is only one style of songs on this cd.

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review by: gary20312 date: 2008-06-24 rating:
Brilliant debut!!!!!
Now I'll be honest and admit that I normally buy/listen to nothing but rock and punk albums since I was 16 (I'm now 33) but every so often I will come across some pop/soul acts that are brilliant. This is the case with this album.

After hearing Mercy when it reached number one in the charts I wasn't exactly blown away but I thought it was a good record. After hearing Warwick Avenue though I took the plunge and bought the album and I must say it is the best album I have bought so far this year.

If you are looking for an album to chill out to in the summer (with any luck!!!) months then this is the one. Ok so the songs are sad about heartbreak but I downloaded this onto my I-Pod before I went away and was listening to it constantly.

As well as the singles which I am sure you've heard the remainder of the album is excellent my favourite song being 'I'm Scared' which stuck in my head as soon as I heard it and was one of those songs I played over and over again. It's a very sad song but her voice is brilliant. Other highlights are 'Serious' and 'Stepping Stone'.

If you're a fan of stuff like Dusty Springfield and old '60s soul I would heavily recommend.

Hope for more of the same when she releases her next album!!!!

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review by: date: 2008-06-23 rating:
Lawd Have Mercy!
Duffy is definitely refreshing. Great production, Great voice, Standout artist! The songs that do it for me are MERCY, STEPPING STONE (Reminds me of Marvin Gaye) and WARWICK AVENUE. I cannot wait to hear her second LP as Duffy has a bright future ahead.


review by: Steve C date: 2008-06-22 rating:
Disappointing after all the hype
Like many other people, I first came across Duffy performing on 'Later with Jools Holland' and she was great. The album, however, is a disappointment, with none of the other tracks coming anywhere near to the perfection of hit single 'Mercy'. That song's use of contemporary beats is not typical of the album as a whole, which is much more retro. Duffy's voice reminds me of Carmel McCourt who had two or three UK hits in the 1980s but was largely under-appreciated in this country. However, her lyrics are much more mundane and clichéd.

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