Duffy: Rockferry

I first saw Aimee Duffy on last years Hootenanny with Jools Holland. At the time she was a relatively unknown singer songwriter recently approached by A&M presumably on the hunt for a less volatile Amy Winehouse for their stable. In the few months following this appearance her career seems to have sky rocketed and Rockferry is now one, if not the, most commercially successful alum of the year. The album has a late 60’s classical soul feel to it (I read that she doesn’t like to be called “the new Dusty Springfield”, but the comparison is inevitable). The album is beautifully produced by Bernard Butler (previously from Suede) and the band and session musicians lift her performances to provide a truly exceptional debut with the title track and its excellent closing guitar solo and “Mercy” being particular standouts.