VV Brown
Travelling Like The Light

Island
out July 13th

81/100
[Rating Scale]

[rating:73/100]
If I were feeling cynical, I might describe VV Brown’s debut, Travelling Like the Light, as being an example of what I’ll dub now ‘mum music’. You know what I’m talking about: songs that belong on the soundtrack to Katherine Heigl movies, and on compilation albums designed to make housework seem more fun; albums that make safe picks for Mother’s Day gifts because they’re upbeat, inoffensive, and recommended by Vogue. I don’t intend for this to come across as a criticism: indeed, this has proved to be a lucrative market for Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy et al, and I’ll bet my bottom dollar that it won’t be long before VV Brown is considered to be on a par with these easy-listening, contemporary heavyweights. Travelling Like the Light emulates the ‘doo-wop’ pop of the ‘50s and ‘60s, but instead of reheating an old classic, VV has successfully given the retro sound a sense of her own character that makes the album seem both fresh and relevant.

What sets VV (otherwise known as Vanessa Brown, a London-based performer and model – no, keep reading) apart from her peers is her voice, or rather, what she does with it. Just a few seconds into the first track, “Quick Fix”, she gives an unsightly, unladylike shriek: already, it’s clear that VV has no time for the reserve of the original doo-wop sound, and indeed, the album as a whole is energetic and uninhibited. Continue reading →