I first saw Amy Wadge perform here in Wrexham (North Wales) around four years ago, and was impressed. She’s a feisty performer with a strong voice; good guitar playing skills; and a knack for writing melodic, meaningful songs. In fact, Wadge is a ‘natural’ and highly accessible, whether it’s writing and performing, or conversing with individuals and audiences.

NO SUDDEN MOVES is Wadge’s third album and moves her on to more country-style pastures. Here In My Hands is a lovely, and quite aggressive opener, with superb production that emphasis Wadge’s powerful and very expressive voice. Next track, Always, has a Latin tinged percussive and guitar backdrop, is more contemplative, more restrained. As always with Wadge, there’s a strong melody and lyrical sincerity which the song’s arrangement and production brings into sharp focus. One love song is followed by another in her moving rendition of Please Don’t Disturb before wandering piano notes introduce the country vibe of Freefall. Solitary country style guitar gives way to a similar style vocal in No Sudden Moves, a song that you could imagine one of the great country pop divas performing at one of those Country Award shows. Perhaps the USA represents the next stage in the lady’s career. In this context, it’s a fine song and one that would find many friends across the pond.

Next up, Wadge tips her hat to the Manics with a moving rendition of the classic A Design For Life, with keyboard notes to accompany her for most of the journey. It’s gorgeous!

This is an interesting album that manages to sound very intimate, and very personal through both the songs and the wonderful production. If this is indeed meant to attract a USA audience to her, it may well work. ‘USA? We’ll Wait & See….’

3.5/5