Travelling Like the Light Island***

Meet VV Brown. The hotly tipped Northampton singer describes her sound as "musical mashed potatoes", but whether it's the stodgy, lumpy kind or the smooth'n' creamy type varies with every mouthful. Brown pilfers her parents' 1950s rock'n'roll, soul and doo-wop record collection. The result throws up plenty of finger-snapping, skirt-twirling numbers ( L.O.V.E., Quick Fix), as well as songs that utilise the 25-year- old's training in piano ( Crazy Amazing). That said, it often feels like originality and innovation are compromised in favour of making a song as familiar-sounding and radio-friendly as possible. The sizzling Motown urgency of Crying Bloodand the shimmering, cinematic Bottlesare notable exceptions. Overall, however,, Travelling Like the Light sounds much like another variation on the nu-soul genre that Amy Winehouse and Duffy have already explored. www.vvbrown.com

Download tracks:Crying Blood, Bottles