Review by Sibel Kutlucan
Gemma Ray sparks a flame in the hearts of everyone with her brand new album Island Fire (Shock Records). With her recent visit to Australia to play Peats Ridge Festival, the alluring pop-noir songstress has intrigued audiences and built up her Australian fan base, whom won’t be able to stop listening to the infectious melodies of Island Fire!

It is easy to understand why Gemma Ray has become one of the UK’s most independent and critically acclaimed female musicians with a listen to her unique sound that resonates throughout Island Fire. Ray effortlessly creates beautiful tunes with her vintage pop vocals and her fantastic song writing. This fantastic harmony of a sweet pop sound, with the hint of yester-year in the melody on “Put your brain in gear” is a clear indication of Gemma Ray’s presence as a fantastic musician, and definitely is a highlight of the album for me.

“Flood and Fire” is a wondrous example of Ray’s talent to slow it down, and really let her strong, yet sweet vocals and an accompanying guitar hypnotise audiences with her addictive sound. “I can see you” is another slow number that really just focuses on the simplicity of Island Fire that makes it so endearing.

Island Fire has 14 tracks which are just as unique as one another, blending a combination of intimate acoustic numbers, with punchy poppy numbers and infectious psychedelic tracks, which together seem a little psychotic; however Gemma Ray pulls it off with flying colours on Island Fire.

Gemma Ray has captured my interest with Island Fire and has truly delivered a unique creation of song writing success, that accompanied by her fantastic vocals creates an album that is definitely worth a listen. Gemma Ray is definitely here to stay and if you haven’t already, you really should have a listen to miss Ray.

www.gemmaray.tv