Woj - Amy Wadge Album Review
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Album Review
Possessing a voice that can at times be as powerful as Sheryl Crow, yet as polished and soothing as Cerys Mathews delivered with the aid of tingling and tuneful instrumentals, Amy Wadge has the potential to make even the likes of Tony Blair believe that sometimes there are better voices to hear than your own. She has managed to produce hypnotically mind massaging music, a prime example being the piano based 'Nothing' that could earn Amy the laudable reputation of being a female Aqualung, with this ode to togetherness. Viewed as Amy's first proper album 'WOJ' (apparently titled because of people's attempts to pronounce her surname) is largely an upbeat life enhancing offering, with the possible exception of the dark horse track; 'Grace' a slow, mournful number featuring philosophical and slightly cynical lyrics that take a pot shot and the transient nature of life;
"The curtains coming down just as she is getting the lines right"
The versatile Cardiff based songstress spent a large part of 2003 building her reputation by demonstrating her love of what she does on the road, with a mixture of solo and band performances including Glastonbury and the Cardiff Mardi Gras. The spirit and thoughtfulness that is evident in Amy's music is also borne out in her extra curricular activities, for example, she is the youth ambassador for Cardiff's 2008 City Of Culture bid. The bouncy and simple 'Valley Boy' gives the album diversity and is a refreshing addition to an offering that features a few slower acoustic based numbers. There is certainly a springtime feel to this offering and Amy's voice will clean away any traces of the murky winter feeling in the mind of the listener, as is suggested in the feel good track 'June';
"Goodbye January. Hello June!"
