Yahoo! Music Review

Released on 28/05/07
Label: Deltasonic

That can't be her real name, can it? Apparently it is, although it seems rather suspicious that Liverpool/New York girl Candie Payne should naturally bear a moniker that so well sums up the sweetness and darkness of her sound. Just when you were thinking the last drops of viable pastiche had been wrung from the threadbare vintage frock of '60s revivalism, Ms Payne's velvety, gothic chanteuse pop proves there's still life in the old decade yet.

"Why Should I Settle For You" invokes Lee Hazlewood-era Nancy Sinatra via PJ Harvey's "To Bring You My Love", with shades of Portishead. It sums up the predominantly languorous, glamorous mood of "I Wish I Could Have Loved You More", as does the slinky "All I Need To Hear", Candie purring: "Just one little white lie / What harm can it do?" The 24-year-old's debut is beautifully produced (by Simon Dine of Noonday Underground, who also co-wrote all the tracks), with a high-class backing band throwing brass, strings, organ, vibraphone and kitchen sink drama into an echoing, portentous studio soundspace.

There are jauntier moments too, such as "Take Me" a meatier, beatier effort that recalls Dusty Springfield, Amy Winehouse and Lucky Soul, and the title track, a thumping go-go dancer driven by insistent, nervy drums, organ and honky-tonk piano. The dark sultriness that Ms Payne has got down to a T will enthral fans of Isobel Campbell or even Mazzy Star, especially on the seductive likes of "In The Morning" with its low, reverby guitar, a tale of dark thoughts in the early light. However, "A Different You" is probably the most emotive track, perhaps because it lacks so many period touches.

They all perfectly evince her stated desire to make songs that "communicate the thoughts and feelings that go through your head, the things that you might not be ready to say out loud yet." Lyrically, meanwhile, this is an album of paranoia, heartbreak but also a wry worldliness. Similarly, there's a real Merseybeat diva sound to Payne's smoky voice, but with a modern self-consciousness and vulnerability.

Elsewhere, beautiful as it is, the well-groomed, kohl-eyed, black jumpered polish can start to drag. In fact, he only real complaint you can throw at this sophisticated, thoughtful album it is that it's almost a little too perfect, its melancholy more decorous than genuinely despairing. However, in a world where Maroon 5 are currently riding atop the album charts, this is a side point at best. You want Candie.

    by Emily Mackay