Variously compared to Kirsty MacColl, Ian Dury, Lily Allen and more, the London post-punk indie artist’s debut LP is a packed with own authentic style of witty, talky, mischievous lyrics and catchy melodies from the perky to wistfully emotional. Standouts include the supremely catchy Stop, a collaboration with Alfie Jackson and Sean Genockey, about the invasive and personal nature of social media and smartphone device addiction, and refreshingly looks to a more analogue approach, to be more present in the real, tangible world. My Idea of Fun, a single arriving with the album’s release, was written to accompany a David Shillinglaw exhibition in Hoxton, but Gemma penned the lyrics whilst nursing a broken heart and staying at a friend’s in Brighton, and relates to the dangers of all-day drinking (and “a whole bottom or rum”), a dub-inspired number ripe with wonderful sounds, and a bouncy, bubbling, syncopated and joyous Jah Wobble feel to it But there are many other gems to enjoy, from the wistful I’m In Love, to the gloriously indie pop Song of the Cities, the caustic humour of First World Problems, all the way to the beautiful and moving acoustic guitar closer, Frida, an ode to the great but tragic life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, but also about the catharsis of creativity.
Packed with energy, images and a flavour of authentic, local London, her songs like mini plays with tenacity: “Art is therapy – stay free … Remember to hold on to the light … Don’t rely solely on people in positions of authority.” Out on Tiny Global Productions. The album is released on Friday, but is already available via Bandcamp. The album launch gig is at Paper Dress Vintage in east London on Thursday 21 July.
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