When Welsh singer Aimee Duffy was 11, she was thrown out of her school choir for having a voice that didn’t fit in with the rest of the group. She certainly has a unique voice, that’s for sure. Her debut album, Rockferry, includes a variety of genres such as pop, Motown, soul, blues, lounge, and even some rock. All in all, it’s like a 1960s album produced in 2008.
Duffy’s voice is hard to describe unless you’ve heard it. It is mature, scratchy, and soothing at the same time. She has “cat-like” traits to her voice, sometimes shrill, sometimes soft purring. While she has similar qualities in her voice as the “other” Amy, regardless of personal lives, Duffy’s music comes off as more innocent and pure than that of Winehouse.
The first single, “Mercy” is a very upbeat, catchy tune that begs her lover to stop playing games and release her. “Rockferry” and “Warwick Avenue” are slower numbers that, along with some other tracks, empower women to not put up with any crap from their men. They give a message such as, “You’re going to treat me like that? I’ll show you. I’ll leave,” but are still saddened by the experience.
“Serious” could be sung by Duffy on The Ed Sullivan Show with backup singers sashaying to the beat. “Distant Dreamer,” with its cool orchestral ending, tries to be very uplifting and powerful, but the lyrics fall short.
I'm wondering about my destiny.
I'm thinking about,
all the things,
I'd like to do in my life.
I'm a dreamer,
a distant dreamer
Overall, Rockferry seems like a gallant effort. Duffy uses her unique and powerful vocal chords to express some tough emotions. The presence of a broken heart is particularly strong. However, the album comes off as a little too manufactured, and her single “Mercy” is perhaps the catchiest tune on the CD. Hopefully on her next release, we will get to see a little more of this talented 24 year-old’s personality.
Christen LaFond, MuzikReviews.com Staff
