It has been a cracking week for the country of Wales, as their ball-tossing gladiators bashed up their bigger neighbours, and won another rugby grand slam. The fans' passion was palpable, after all, they're able to combine the two things that they love most – watching rugby, and of course, singing. And the Welsh have never been short on singers that can belt it out: Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Duffy and Charlotte Church to name but a few.
Jodie Marie is of a more delicate ilk than some of the aforementioned, both vocally and lyrically, but she has the soulful tinge that has become ever so fashionable again in contemporary music. Oh, and like a certain Adele, she's only 20 years old – I'm afraid fellas, that you are going to have to suffer another few years of this sort of inoffensive, easy-listening slush. But it is perfectly tempered slush.
Mountain Echo's strengths are obvious. It is full of pretty, sentimental arrangements that have the primary task of complimenting Marie's honeyed delivery. 'Shadows of Rain' and 'Numb' are easily some of the finest pop ballads you'll hear this year, while the assertive melodies of 'Dandelion Wishes' are worth going back for. It must be driven home that such is the saccharine nature of this record, much of it will be a blur when thinking back, with only a couple of songs screaming themselves out as potential singles.
I suppose that could be considered a strength, but that doesn't necessarily mean that 'Mountain Echo' is an album of depth. The country and blues overtones are always immediately obvious when they appear, but generally, the lack of diversity in style and pace are at a contrast to Adele's 21 for example. This is too innocuously pleasant to be a classic then, but given this is a debut, young Jodie Marie hits her stride regularly and dutifully, so it is worth a few spins at the very least.
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Jodie Marie is of a more delicate ilk than some of the aforementioned, both vocally and lyrically, but she has the soulful tinge that has become ever so fashionable again in contemporary music. Oh, and like a certain Adele, she's only 20 years old – I'm afraid fellas, that you are going to have to suffer another few years of this sort of inoffensive, easy-listening slush. But it is perfectly tempered slush.
