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Elly Roberts reviews
ATO/BMG
- Cat.no: ATO0016
- Released: March 2005
- Rating: 10/10
Heard the one about the talented girl who left the valley to climb a mountain?
If not, you soon will. Thats exactly what funky Welsh chanteuse Jemma Griffithshas done – but it took almost five years to get there. Originally from Penarthand temporarily based in LA in search of her dream, the brunette babe is flyinghigh in the USA.
With this debut release, shes also flying the Welsh flag, as she takes Didoand Evanescence head on. With brilliant new radio-friendly single They hittingthe major playlists, and back-up album Finally Woken (selling over 200,000copies so far), all is set for Jem to become the next big thing.
With the support of an RCA world-wide deal behind her, the world is finallywaking up to the hip-hop fan. Jem (right) has seriously toiled over compromising herroots to become more accessible, without losing her inspiration and completelyselling out.
During her law studies at Brighton University, she caught the music bug.Eventually, she set up and ran Marine Parade Records in Brighton. In 1999 shedecided to branch out her talents by moving back to her native Wales a yearlater, where she got stuck in to some demo tapes. This followed an enrollmentwith the New Deal For Musicians.
After two frustrating years she relocated to LA where she presented a CD toinfluential DJ Nic Harcourt of KRCW, who gave it heavy rotational play.Things rapidly developed from there.
With this tasty debut she appears to have found the winning balance, becomingthe darling of the music press. In 2004, Jem became the most successful Britishfemale debut artist in the US.
On offer here is clever blend of luscious ballads, folk, electronica dubbedtrip-hop. Mustnt forget the gorgeous string accompaniments either.
Top tracks: They, the reggae tinged Wish I (potential next single)and Flying High.
This is seriously cool.
Weblinks:Jem-Music.net /ATO Records.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. They
2. Come On Closer
3. Finally Woken
4. Save Me
5. 24
6. Missing You7. Wish I
8. Just A Ride
9. Falling For You
10. Stay Now
11. Flying High
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.