In the middle of the cover graphic I put together is another album… Amongst the signed and hyped artists, Marina And The Diamonds is an easy winner. But a couple of months ago we received a brilliant record from a virtually unknown, unsigned young lady who right this minute is wondering how best to launch herself and her record on the British public. This is her story and our review.

Katey Brooks is a rising star of British acoustic music. Singing “splendidly sad-eyed modern spirituals” (Venue magazine) in a rich, deep voice lilting effortlessly across the scale, INDY Music Award finalist Brooks is “on the road to becoming a phenomenon” (Trevor Raggatt, Wears the Trousers magazine).A favourite at UK festivals like Orange Ashton Court and Bath International Music Festival, Brooks has played alongside and worked with the likes of US No.1 Grammy Award nominees Cutting Crew, Beth Rowley, and Patrick Duff (Strangelove), as well as supporting many notable acts including Newton Faulkner, Mercury Award nominee Lou Rhodes (Lamb), The Christians, critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter Joe Purdy, and folk hero Martin Simpson. She has also had the blessing of working with the great Graham Smith (Van Der Graaf Generator, String Driven Thing), who has played live with Katey on many occasions, and features heavily on her second EP ‘True Speaker’, along with her soon-to-be-released debut album.

As well as her growing UK fan-base, Katey has been garnering praise in Europe, and recently headlined the Bordeaux River Festival, in front of an audience of several thousands. She has played sessions on BBC Radio and other regional radio stations, and had airplay on BBC Radio 1’s much coveted Jo Whiley show. In 2007 Katey did a session to over a million listeners worldwide for the online radio chart show Pulse Rated. Following this, two of her songs, True Speaker and Hunger reached No.1 and stayed there for several weeks.

Over the past year Katey has become increasingly involved in music for charity projects, and in September 2009, had the privilege of shooting a music video, and recording vocals at Abbey Road, for the BBC Radio 2 Children in Need single ‘All You Need Is Love’, and ‘Favourite Things’, as part of the CIN album ‘Bandaged Together’. Katey has exclaimed this was a “…surreal and memorable day…” recording alongside Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) and Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) among others.

Katey also features on this year’s release of ‘Beautiful Star: The Songs of Odetta’; a tribute to the late Odetta Holmes, with all profits going to The Fawcett Society (http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk) and The Women’s Resource Centre (http://www.wrc.org.uk) The album features songs from independent artists such as Marissa Nadler, Anais Mitchell, and Ane Brun, and will be released in both the UK and Europe, and the US.

Over a year since the start of recording, it would be an understatement to say Katey is excited about the forthcoming release of her debut album. ‘Proof of Life’ will be released on March 1st 2010, the first day of spring; a date which Katey has said feels fitting, given the album title, and the song content.

It’s been a while since a new British female singer/songwriter has impressed me this much, and it didn’t take long. ‘You Will Be Free’ is the opening track on her debut album and I was immediately struck by the distinctive nature of her very beautiful voice; one moment, dark and deep, the next soaring like an eagle. If it was a wine would be described as having a deep, smooth, woody flavour - it’s stunning and attention-grabbing. But that’s only part of the story because Brooks writes compelling songs, like this one and the rest on this very special album. They are soulful, modern folk songs boasting moving and intelligent lyrics, driven by strong melodies and striking but simple instrumental arrangements. ‘Soft Sleeper’ is next and it reminds me of the Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions album as it opens in reflective, stripped-down style. There’s an echo to her voice as though the song was recorded in some quiet, holy place. The backing vocals (I imagine supplied by Brooks) are perfectly judged and help nail this gorgeous love song. ‘True Speaker’ is a lighter song which has me believing that Brooks should head over to the States at the earliest opportunity to perform live - they would love her! ‘No-One But My Best’ provides an excellent showcase of her vocal range and the expressive nature of her wonderful voice. The instrumental backdrop could not be more stripped-down initially, but then it builds with orchestration, and is nothing less than a thing of wonder.

I have already played two Brooks songs on my radio show including the next song, ‘Lines’, which totally blew me away. It contains my favourite vocal and instrumental performance on the album, sincere lyrics and a super-strong melody. It frankly wouldn’t surprise me if it becomes my favourite song of 2010. ‘Hunger’ offers sonic diversity with its Mariachi style and an echoed vocal that sounds as if it’s coming from a vast Western plain. Extraordinary!

‘I Don’t Want No Other’ has a distinct alt country vibe while ‘This Old Skin’ has a rocky feel. ‘Is It Love’ is a slow-burning love song that builds to magnificent crescendo of sound and left me breathless…. There are ten great songs on this album which is already on my short-list for album of the year. It’s that good, and I feel sure that Katey Brooks is destined for great things - worldwide.

4.5/5

So the real winner here is Katey Brooks, an artist who is un-hyped and treading her own very independent and difficult path (for now). If you’d like to indulge yourself in this brilliant artist and her music, go to her MySpace page:  http://www.myspace.com/kateybrooks