Gemma Hayes - The Hollow of Morning (Gemma Hayes Music) ***
12:42pm Friday 16th May 2008
GEMMA Hayes isn't alone in being apparently chewed up and spat out by a music business ravenous for new blood, but rather than sink meekly into the abyss she's grabbed the reins and saddled her talented steed for a go at the game, but on her own terms.
This delicately crafted album reunites her with David Odlum who produced her Mercury-nominated debut and finds Hayes in breathy voice for the most part, while the distinctive guitar thrum of Kevin Shields lifts tracks like Don't Forget, In Over My Head and Home to unexpected heights. Just as effective though is Chasing Dragons and the economy of scale employed in the layers of Sad Ol' Song.
The Hollow of Morning is the sound of an artist finding her feet and realising they're stood on pretty solid ground.