Description:
Somewhere there`s an unofficial manual about how to create legendary soul albums. Theres advice for budding new artists on how to screw up their life a bit, get their heart broken, acquire some `issues` and turn it all into music. Listening to Rockferry, it`s evident that Duffy hasn`t yet read this book; the haunting experience of hurt is tangible by its absence. However, the scholarly pursuit of her craft has resulted in an album that`s a delicious confection of elegent, bluesy soul. Its not legendary, but it`s well over halfway there. . . The spine-tingling orchestration comes courtesy of a dream team of writers and producers, one of which is indie veteran Bernard Butler: the thinking man`s Mark Ronson. He brings the album to a dazzling denouement with Distant Dreamer - a sonic waterfall of strings so uplifting you emerge drenched in hope. Elsewhere, the Dusty Springfield comparisons find justification in the likes of debut single Rockferry and Warwick Avenue, a stirring tale of strength and walking away. There are few low points to be found, with the Gabrielle-esque Stepping Stone noticeably hanging limply in the tracklisting. . . The subject matter of Rockferry is the preserve of classic soul - rueful tales of myriad insubordinations at the hands of dastardly men - and Duffy`s voice is an understated sensation. Yet her youth and naivety mean shes been force-fed pain like shes songstress foie gras. The result is that it`s the quality of her sound that resonates, rather than the emotional force of the lyrics. True soul serves up solace for the broken-hearted. With Duffy, lyrics like ``In an instant you were gone / And now I`m scared`` (from sublime relationship eulogy, Scared) simply dont shatter romantic idealism the way they should. After three years of musical growth, Duffy has found her voice - now its time to enrich it by living. -- Sophie Hammer, bbc.co.uk (Island Def Jam)
