Rockferry

You would think that Duffy is one of those artists spawned from Amy Winehouse's transatlantic success, however Duffy, now 23, grew up in remote north Wales, listening to her mother's modest record collection and building up a small following of fans when, at 19, she was discovered by "60Ft Dolls" Richard Parfitt, who brought her to the attention of Jeanette Lee (once of PiL) at Rough Trade, she in turn hooked her up with Bernard Butler (Suede), Steve Booker and Jimmy Hogarth, who 'helped' write this album, so, in a every sense her debut album, "Rockferry", has been more than three years in the making.
This debut by the 23-year-old Welsh singer Aimee Anne Duffy is not so much an album as a museum.
She's been hailed as the sound of 2008 but really she's the sound of 1964, or thereabouts - Rockferry is all saucer-eyed, glossy soul-pop in the style of Sandie Shaw, Dusty Springfield and even Lulu.
Most of its songs are slower and grander than the fizzy Number One single "Mercy": the best examples are the mellifluous "Warwick Avenue" and the lung-busting "Distant Dreamer".
But while her voice is technically unimpeachable, it isn't always very moving. It doesn't sound as if there's any heartbreak behind it - too pretty for pain, too sweet for sadness.
IndieLondon wrote: "It's a moody, atmospheric effort built around Duffy's powerhouse vocal delivery and some genuinely thrilling background drum loops and strings. Butler's influence is evident throughout but the song certainly marks Duffy out as a fierce talent to watch".
Tipped in UK as the sound of 2008, Rockferry actually manages to live up to the hype.
Wonderfully soaked in chic, retro soul, the production deliberately pushes Duffy's smoky voice to the fore. And what a voice it is - one that recalls both Dionne Warwick and Lulu in her 60s prime.
While she may lack the tabloid back story of Amy Winehouse, this is an album every bit as solid as "Back To Black", with tracks - "Stepping Stone", "Warwick Avenue", "Syrup And Honey" in particular - that sound like dusty soul standards.
Like her hit "Mercy", there's a mournful defiance here in the familiar theme of standing strong in the face of abuse. The result is mighty good pop.

i have a copy of the CD which is excellent and one of my favorite albums the year it came out (2009 i think).
i bought the vinyl LP so i could enjoy on my record player (old school),
there was a lag of about 2 weeks between the time i ordered and when the LP was actually shipped.
once it was shipped it arrived pretty quickly, in a matter of days but unfortunately the LP was warped, not so much that it won't play but enough to be aggravating.

Heard the song "mercy" so many times, had to buy the album because it has a good beat to your dancing. Great Stuff on the CD, Great Music, keep it up Duffy!!!