Sultry Canadian songstress delivers a wonderful second album
Much like yourself I’d not heard of Melissa Payne before receiving this album; and as is often the case it was the soft focus, well lit photograph on the cover which caught my attention; so on a damp grey day I slid the disc into the player. The joyful slightly husky voice that came out the speakers immediately let me know I’d made the right decision.
Opening track ‘High and Dry’ is a well-crafted mid-tempo pre-breakup song that should attract the attention of radio programmers and even TV producers. Producers Greg Keeler and James McKenty do a great job throughout the album; using Payne’s voice to great advantage; but also allowing the band to come to the fore when necessary; but never threatening to overshadow the singer.
‘Kitchen Walls’ is a rip-roaring piano led, rocking old fashioned Country belter, and when the fiddle cuts through the middle section a huge smile lit up my face.
The album flits across the Country genres like a butterfly and songs like Call Me a Fool and Cool West Wind both Country songs worthy of Nanci Griffith’s typewriter; yet the punchy Gunning For Me brought back memories of the first time I heard Lucinda all those years ago.
“High and Dry” ends far too quickly with Melissa, a piano, jazzy drumming and a beautiful bittersweet love song Cold Out There that is just perfect for the slight warble in her soft sensitive voice and will leave listeners weak at the knees.
One for the future? One for the present? I don’t know; but it will only take a gentle nudge in the right direction for the blonde beauty from Ontario to quickly emulate the success of her Southern based contempories.
Did I mention Melissa Payne has a sexy, husky voice? No? Well she has.
http://melissapaynemusic.com/
www.seventhfirerecords.com
UK Release July 14th 2014
The Rocking Magpie 