Gemma Ray's recordings seem to jump genres with ease. If you love one record you might not love the next. But you can be sure that each one, at the very least, will be interesting. Her latest record, Island Fire, came out May 29. There are already two videos out. One of these, Flood and a Fire, is mixed in with the photos below.
These pictures were taken when Ray opened for Ane Brun at Lincoln Hall on May 22, 2012--the last day of the North American tour. Ray played the tour with herself on guitar and vocals and a drummer. It was very stripped down! It is also a testament to her talent that it worked.
How does she take a song with a sort of loungey-electronic vibe and pull it off with just her and a guitar? I do not know but she does. She also did a Mudhoney cover, which earns bonus points.
These pictures were taken when Ray opened for Ane Brun at Lincoln Hall on May 22, 2012--the last day of the North American tour. Ray played the tour with herself on guitar and vocals and a drummer. It was very stripped down! It is also a testament to her talent that it worked.
How does she take a song with a sort of loungey-electronic vibe and pull it off with just her and a guitar? I do not know but she does. She also did a Mudhoney cover, which earns bonus points.
Ray's music might get lumped in with that wave of nostalgia for all things 50s and 60s in the UK over the past few years. It shouldn't be. There is much more going on here than just that. I am not always sure what but it is certainly more. The first video off of Island Fire, was for the track, Rescue Me. Watch it to try to make sense of what I am babbling about when it comes to nostalgia.
For one while there is a certain "nostalgia" vibe in the music I am not entirely sure it is for a time or place that ever, in fact, existed. She is an excellent vocalist and guitarist and has a definite presence on stage.
For one while there is a certain "nostalgia" vibe in the music I am not entirely sure it is for a time or place that ever, in fact, existed. She is an excellent vocalist and guitarist and has a definite presence on stage.
It is to be hoped that Ray will return to the USA soon with a full band. This isn't to suggest there is a THING wrong with how she toured this time. She was great but it would be interesting to hear her songs fleshed out with a full band a second time.
RSS Feed