With the 22nd installment of Shark Week swimming along on the Discovery Channel, there another ‘shark in the water’ that some might find equally entertaining (and much less terrifying). This one is heading swiftly toward our shores from the UK. But no need to cue the Jaws theme, as she’s bringing her own soundtrack along.
VV Brown is making waves as part of a new school of Brits, freshmen fast-tracked to must-hear status. On her debut LP, Travelling Like The Light, Brown is mostly fascinated with ’50s influences, from doo-wop (“Leave!” and the title track) to rave-ups (“Quick Fix,” “Crying Blood”). However pure her intentions here, too much of Travelling comes off as novelty, perhaps never more so than on “Crazy Amazing,” based on Hoagey Carmichael’s “Heart And Soul” (think Big). To be fair, that song was originally published in 1938, but did become a chart hit for several artists in the ’50s and early ’60s.
Elsewhere, on tracks like “Bottles” and especially “Back In Time,” Brown frames her tunes (she wrote or co-wrote nearly all of Travelling) against classic girl-group backdrops of heartache and hurt. “I Love You” even kicks off with an intro inspired by The Shangri-Las’ “Give Him A Great Big Kiss.” On these songs, Brown’s emotional range really reaches through (and I admit some bias, since I have a fondness for this era of music), but following in Amy Winehouse’s strong wake, the originality isn’t what it might have otherwise been. While their bark may be similar, Amy’s got more bite.
That’s why I much prefer the tracks on Travelling that can’t quite be assigned to either camp. “Game Over” is a funky ‘don’t-mess-with-me’ workout. “Everybody” is Brown’s fun, fast-tempoed update on “All You Need Is Love.” But it’s a third track (and in fact, track number three on Travelling) that’s making me really happy to have Brown around.
“Shark In The Water,” with its island feel, normally would have me running the other way. But listen closely and you’ll hear the chugging undercurrent of a Bo Diddley beat. Sure, that’s a Fifties’ influence, but “Shark” bursts into this giant stomper during the chorus, making the world go all technicolor and chasing away any and all shades of gray. Add in the ‘doo-doo-doo’ bit from Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side” that comes in toward the end (for a dash of 1972), and “Shark In The Water” becomes a sleekly written and produced musical predator, devouring all who might dare cross Brown’s path:
“Shark In The Water” is the sole track on Travelling Like The Light on which Brown carries no writing credit (and the album includes just three on which she was joined). Who can say whether lightning will strike twice, but this single track is so brilliant that I think Brown should consider casting a wider net of writers next time out.
VV Brown’s Travelling Like The Light is currently available only as an import (purchase via Amazon), but I’ve spotted a free download of “Shark In The Water” over at ArjanWrites.
