Album- Rockferry
I saw this in HMV today (a great DVD and CD store in the UK that has sadly been announced as going into administration because of the recession). To be honest we haven’t really heard much from Duffy since this record. I mean she did release another album but that just didn’t match the success and since then she’s had no new music. So I thought it would be cool to look back at the record and see why the public fell in love with Duffy and her music in the first place.
Track 1- Rockferry
The opening track is a grand sweeping ballad that conjures up a kind of ethereal, 1960’s based imagery. The track is powerful in terms of how it opens the listener up to Duffy’s distinctive vocals which feel very past influenced, particularly reminding me of Dusty Springfield. Lyrically the track is all about how Duffy is moving to this place called Rockferry and in the process is moving on from a relationship. The message is potent buut I feel within this song in takes second place to the strong, soaring vocals and the cool production with its piano and tambourine based melodies which lead into a 1960’s guitar section at the end that is a great finish.
3.5/5
Track 2- Warwick Avenue
With this song Duffy continues on an emotional level but with this song she is even more personal and stripped back. The lyrics here are poetic and beautiful, with Duffy talking about the hurt that she is feeling and how she will get to Warwick Avenue where she wants her baby to see what he has done and not be fooled by the fact that she has come to see him. And vocally she plays it great in terms of making the song delicate and soft in tone but also powerful and in a minor way aggressive. The songs production with its violins, pianos, guitar and drums just all combine to create a powerful sound that really creates for beautifully moving song.
4.5/5
Track 3- Serious
This more mid tempo groove of a number features a cool acoustic sound that feels a bit preppy and compliments the songs ideology well, with lyrically Duffy talking about this relationship where she questions whether it will actually go anywhere and whether her man can be serious at all. The songs chorus is powerful vocally and she really brings a sense of passion and contemplation within the track, particularly with regards to the chilled but powerful way she sings the songs title. The guitar riffs and percussion give a chilled vibe to the record and make the lyrics really stand out well.
3.5/5
Track 4- Stepping Stone
The fourth track is an emotional ballad about how Duffy wont be treat like just an object by her lover and she will go out in the world and stand strong. The lyrics are melancholic but have an innate strength, with the chorus being a powerful declaration that many will identify with. Vocally she keeps it a little bit more on a lower register, with the contrast of the delicate verses and stronger chorus being a powerful combination. However the chorus is also good in that it’s just a simple statement that is not over sung. The production has a smoothness to it with simple piano and percussion that makes for a chilled out affair, with the orchestra moment of the songs middle section being a nice pace changer that makes for a simple but effective finish.
4/5
Track 5- Syrup & Honey
This very simple down tempo number features a very stripped back sound and is nice in that it’s not about heartbreak but is about the power of this relationship and how Duffy just needs her man’s love. The songs brilliance lies in its deep simplicity, with the track featuring powerfully stripped back sound that just consists off simple light but strong guitar riffs. This makes for a sound that is both real and vulnerable, and also works well in terms of highlighting one of the best things about Duffy as an artist: her voice. The vocal performance of the track is of an amazingly superb, with Duffy really pouring her heart and soul into the track, and the best moment being when the guitar stops and she just sings on repeat the word “baby”. So good.
4/5
Track 6- Hanging on Too Long
This slow slightly moody and sensual sounding number is all about a relationship in which Duffy talks about this relationships in which these mistakes have been made and they have just kept the relationship going out of false hope that it would be ok. With her lilting tone and smooth vocals Duffy makes for a great sound to the track, with the chorus being a passionate declaration of how it is wrong to hold on to things for the wrong reasons. The production makes for a soulful feel to the track, with the chorus having a big band kind of sound that is really strong and makes for a catchy quality to the track.
4/5
Track 7- Mercy
The records big stomper of a number has been described by Duffy as being about sexual liberty, and within the lyrics we find Duffy showing an intense longing for this attractive guy. The vocals are distinct and give a smooth but smoky kind of tone to the track, with the chorus being particularly powerful, specifically in terms of the high note of that last line. With a stomping rhytm brought out by the soulful and bluesy production, complete with organs and strong drum beats. Easy to see why this was her big, number 1, breakout hit.
5/5
Track 8- Delayed Devotion
This track is all about how Duffy just needs to move on from this relationship because her beau has taken too long to show how much he feels for her and so her feelings for him have in turn really changed. The song’s lyrics are simple but deep and are offset nicely by a mid tempo production that features some smooth violins and nice percussion that almost border on the upbeat in a weird way. As usual the vocals are nice and smooth and so make for a nice chilled listen.
3/5
Track 9- I’m Scared
This haunting song really well in sound with the songs message, with the track opening in a strong way with powerful strings and then leading into simple piano instrumentation and then a soulful drum driven groove. The songs message is all about Duffy being scared where this relationship is going, and it’s just another sweet number with emotional vulnerability
3.5/5
Track 10- Distant Dreamer
The final track is a clattering end with a big wall of sound that makes for an epic conclusion. The track is all about how Duffy dreams of better things even when faced with the harshness of reality. It’s a potent message that taps into the human condition, and with strong vocals that are set against a powerful bass and all round cool sound it’s a great end to the record.
Final Review
Soulful, beautiful and emotional, this is a record where it’s just best to listen to it yourself and realise why it is such a good album.
8.5/10
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