CD Review: North by Gem Andrews

I don't review recorded music as much as I used to because I've been out playing live, and consequently most of the reviews have been about gigs. However, I asked Gem to send me this because I've seen her and her band play live on several occasions and I was interested to see if the warmth of the live performances translated into recorded versions of her songs.
Gem is an Americana artist whose subject matter is anchored in a British childhood, although she now lives in Berlin; she sings in a clear, Celtic-sounding voice which is both pitch-perfect and authoritative. These songs have been tried and tested live, and I recognised a lot of them from the live gigs.
The swing and sway of the live performances is there from the first track onwards, from the first sparkly fingerpicked intro to the song Letter. There's a lot of variety here and the occasional knowing nod to other eras, for instance in one of the best tracks, Lungs, whose backing vocals almost have a chain gang sound, but sung by women. As in many of the tracks the lyrics are bitter, sung with a sweetness that belies the story being told, and the track bowls along powered by the double bass and drums. Feather and Skin is also a lovely song, again underpinned by strong harmonies sung by Nicky Rushton and Sarah Van Jellie (who have their own band), Bernard Wright, who plays fiddle, and others. On first listening, I put a star beside this track: on second listening too, it is a real stand-out.
Two Lighthouses is a song that transcends genres; it's even possible to imagine this one covered by a pop diva (although they might want to tinker with the lyrics to make them a little more bland).
One of the deceptively simplest songs, Straight Lines, could quite easily be sung by Dolly Parton, and I felt a burst of songwriter's admiration for the skill it takes to blend lyrics and melody with such craftswomanship. Carole is just a lovely song, sung for a departed friend so delicately and tenderly that it's impossible not to feel deeply moved; the backing vocals gently cluster around Gem's voice and you can hear that this must have been quite a difficult song to record for everyone. It's very hard to write a song about a person who has passed away without sounding sentimental, but this song has almost a gritty feel to it, a determination not to forget, ever, that etches it into the psyche.
The band is as perfectly tuned in to the music on record as they are live. What is particularly lovely about this set of songs is the fact that they are recorded with space for every instrument to be heard and most importantly, Gem's singing to the forefront. Newcastle's Jumpin' Hot Club has been the springboard for a wide variety of different artists' careers. I think I might have even been at one of Gem's first gigs, and one of the best things about being out there gigging is to see how people's songs and performances change and develop over the years. Gem has put together a band that underpins her songs with great sensitivity. Go to see them, buy the CD (from Market Square Music) and listen to these songs here soundcloud.com/gem-andrews so you can sing along like I do!

Photo by David Wala