Travelling like the light by V V Brown

Description: V V Brown is a singer, a songwriter, a performer, multi-instrumentalist and a producer, who first came to attention after landing an upfront slot on Later With Jools Holland. Her performance on the show won her a lot of admirers, including Damon Albarn, who invited her to perform on his Africa Exprez adventure in Lagos. Though music has always been a big part of V Vs life, with early influences including Ruth Brown, Elvis Presley and, just as importantly, the music from Super Marioland.

Travelling Like The Light, is a perfect introduction to the 25-year old’s sound. In this young lady’s world, love sounds like the perfect melody. Both are difficult to define she says, but both pour out of the songs on her debut album. This is music which sounds like performance: dramatic, charismatic and, frequently, as mad as a box of frogs. This is high definition, high concept pop with scuffed edges and laddered tights. V V describes her music as "musical mashed potatoes", which must, therefore, make her songs "smash hits"--but there’s nothing instant or synthetic about these pop tunes. Her songs are instantly addictive and unmistakably honest, with lyrics asking "what the bloody point is" answered by melodies full of life and reasons to be cheerful. The contradiction works, throwing the listener from happy to sad and back again in the space of three minutes.

My review: I shall be VERY honest here and say I knew nothing about VV Brown until my eldest son took part in the Young Voices Concert at the O2 Arena in December 2009 and she was named as one of the artists to star at it (after seeing the DVD from that I cannot believe the legs on this girl!! She has SERIOUSLY long legs, yes, I’m jealous). THEN at Christmas I found the BBC running a ‘preview’ of their viewing with a REALLY catchy song that had been tweaked from the original, and it was one of VV Brown’s (the track called: L.O.V.E) . So, on the basis of this I got me the album.

I have to admit, she has a lovely voice, very smooth and easy to listen to. There is a host of upbeat tracks to dance and sing along to, along with a few slower tempo tunes too, the kind to smooch with your beloved or just chill out with a glass of wine in your hand. It’s a nicely produced album with a nice mix of tracks to show off her voice and style. My personal favourite tracks are: L.O.V.E, Everybody, Crazy Amazing (has a sound of ‘Heart and Soul’ by Hoagy Carmicheal) and Shark in the water.

All in all it’s a good fun album with a good mix to suit most moods. I hope she has a bright future in the music industry.


Her official website can be found here