Emm Gryner - Songs Of Love And Death - Album Review

Emm Gryner

Emm Gryner
Songs Of Love And Death

Although I have never heard of any Emm Gryner’s musical escapades before, this album did highly intrigue me. This woman has released 7 albums previously, set up her own record label, been signed to a major and even toured with David Bowie.

This album, Songs Of Love And Death consists primarily of covers, but unusually from just Irish singer/songwriters. Here is the run down of what’s what on this little number. Covers include Thin Lizzy, Horslips, Ash, The Virgin Prunes, Gilbert O’Sulivan, Therapy?, The Corrs, and The Thrills. She plays all the instruments including piano, guitar, bass, drums, clarinet, electrics, and drum machine.

When I say covers I don’t mean like Busted doing Teenage Kicks (coincidentally Emm Gryner has indeed also covered The Undertones), I mean her ditching the original arrangements, like for example Ash’s punk/pop Shining Light, and adding her own vocal stylings. Its as if she has acknowledged the originals stripped them bare, processed all the information and rebuilt these rather minor cult classic songs. The music is slow and very atmospheric with a vocal that sounds dreamy and soothing.

Obvious is the pure respect she applies to all the covers. What is good about this album is the fact that I, to my to my amusement, have found that I am listening to music I would have not in a squillion years have listen to. This could be a good or bad thing depending on who you are. To me this is good, but on the other side of things is that when all is done you left with a teasing sensation as she didn’t write any of these songs, so in theory it could just be S-Club 7. Buy it if you like fan dependent independent artists. Oh that’s a tongue twister and so is this album. 7.5/10

http://emmgryner.com

Alex Parker

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