Despite a brief but memorable stint in Durham during my formative student years and a brief flirtation with a goth girl in Newcastle it is fair to say I am a Southerner. So much so that the accent that seems none existent in the SO postcode somehow becomes “posh” north of the Watford gap... Or Australian in America for some reason... So I was surprised to get an email from an artist in Scarborough wanting to send me her CD.
The Amaya Huntly (and The Merry Men) CD arrived and having already caught a few snippets on MySpace I was keen to hear an entire album... and I was not disappointed. Having amassed some 40 tunes and with a definite flair for the theatrical I was intrigued to hear how an album would work. All For One is a slightly eclectic collection of tracks ranging from pop to music hall but each tracks shows a deft song writing touch.
Opener Regret is a dark pop gem, a warning to live life for today and not lament the past, a plea to look on the positive rather than the negative of your situation with a playful lyrical bent “God opens a window, where the devil’s closed a door” that instantly grabs you and pulls you into Amaya’s world.
This is followed by the beautiful simplicity of Mary Jane with it’s warm vocal harmonies and delicate piano it is clear there is real talent on display here. Sunny Afternoon is a wonderful jaunty little ditty, with a classic English twist that puts me in mind of Victoria Wood fronting Madness.
There are some more traditional showtunes on the album with Relive The Masquerade sounding like a lost track from the Evita soundtrack and it is one of several tracks that wouldn’t sound out of place on the stage rather than your stereo.
Stand out track for me though is the epic finale, Death Row’s Prayer. A hauntingly beautiful tune, with all the trademarks of a Johnny Cash classic, dark, brooding with a beat that feels like it drags in time with the feet of the fictitious condemned man. Akin to Condemnation by Depeche Mode or the odes to the incarcerated that pepper the Cash back catalogue, this is something special, not a radio single for sure but clearly shows a depth and ability beyond her years.
In a world dominated by the diva it is refreshing to hear a female vocalist who can be compared to Karen Carpenter or Tori Amos rather than the obligatory Mariah/Whitney wannabes that seem to grace the numerous TV “talent” shows. At this stage I would not like to bet which way Amaya will go, musical composer or popstar, but either way I am sure she will be one to watch in the years to come. |
