SEX DREAMS AND DENIM JEANS is Released on Ed Banger Records on the 14th June, 2010

Uffie (born Anna-Catherine Hartley on December 9, 1987) is an American-born, Hong Kong-raised, Paris-based electro artist, vocalist, rapper, entertainer, producer and songwriter currently signed by French music label Ed Banger Records and Elektra Records. She has been described as a muse for French DJs, and performs her lyrics in an ‘anti-flow’ delivery. Her music incorporates the genres of synthpop, electronica, hip hop, rap and dance, and she often works with her fellow label-mates, Feadz and Mr. Oizo, as well as producer Mirwais. She is perhaps best known for her singles “Pop the Glock”, “First Love”, “ADD SUV (feat. Pharell Williams)” and “MC’s Can Kiss” as well as her collaboration with labelmates Justice on the single “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy.” Her recent live performances have been compared to other artists in the Andy Warhol art movement. 

Anna-Catherine Hartley was born in Florida but moved to Hong Kong when she was four years old due to her father’s work. She lived in Hong Kong for most of her childhood, and was greatly influenced by the city. Uffie’s name comes from the French words Un Oeuf (which means “an egg”), a nickname her father gave her as a child for being so rowdy. Her family once intended to spend a year sailing but a typhoon struck and the family had to abandon ship in the Philippines. In her teens, Hartley later moved with her mother to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, but at age 15 relocated to Paris with her father, after getting in quite a bit of trouble in the States.

Once moving to France, she realised that she greatly preferred the European and French lifestyle over the American, and she has lived there since. Hartley originally studied fashion in Paris and attended the International School of Paris on the famous Rue de Passy, but when a music offer came along, she dropped out of school because it was “a once in a lifetime opportunity” and signed with Ed Banger Records in early 2006.

Uffie had booked DJ Feadz for a party she was organising, and the two began a relationship. In a 2008 interview, Uffie explained her relationship status. She and Feadz had broken up earlier that year. Uffie then began dating graffiti artist André Saraiva and the two were briefly married in August 2008 but were divorced over the summer in 2009. Their daughter Henrietta was born in October 2009.

I’ve been underwhelmed by the headline, new young white popster/rappers until I heard this young lady’s record. Uffie offers a sound that is way more adventurous than most, with lyrics that make a bit more sense. She also has a ‘cute’ voice while the record is blessed with sharp production that brings out every nuance of her music. Opener ‘Pop The Glock’ is Beastie Boys revisited - no bad thing - and serves as a vibrant intro to the artist. ‘Art Of Uff’ is a dark, angsty autobiographical tune with references to her failed marriage that lacks melody but makes up for it in some biting lyrics, and a well-judged electronic backdrop. By track three, ‘Add Suv’, this svelt coupé ups a gear while adding a valuable passenger in the form of Pharrel Williams. It’s a vibrant dance tune wrapped around a decent set of lyrics and quite superb production. ‘Give It Away’ sports a powerful melody and ‘MCs Can Kiss’ is a rampant, jagged and dirty tune. ‘Difficult’ is a standout, driving tune with monster melody and the most adventurous sound here (I’ve penned this one for radio airplay).

‘First Love’ takes a more conventional ballad route albeit with a pounding rhythmic backdrop. ‘Sex Dreams And Denim Jeans’ is a dance slam-dunk of a song, while ‘Our Song’ offers a cynical description of her career advancement (”I never claimed to be an artist, I can’t even sing you know, everything happened so fast, but I never knew I could get used to it…do you believe in me?”).

‘Illusion Of Love’ is blindingly original with the unremitting drone of a hammond dominating another outstanding, melodic track which also features Mattie Safer on vocals - hell, it’s a stunner! The record’s penultimate song reaches a speeding-bullet high with ‘Hong Kong Garden’, and if you’re not danced-out by this point this arrrives, you will be by the time it’s departed. Final track ‘Ricky’ is another standout and final proof that Uffie’s debut album couldn’t really be much better than this. And believe me when I say that this type of music, by this type of artist is just not on my waveband. This is a a firecracker of an album that I, rather guiltily, love… and could be our dance album of 2010.

4/5

http://www.myspace.com/uffie