Rebecca Ferguson: Heaven
British soul singer/songwriter Rebecca Ferguson found fame or recognition on Simon Cowell’s X-Factor but she’s clearly had power to burn before the fickle limelight shone on her.
A native of Liverpool, she draws on the seaport’s long and gritty musical lineage and tradition. Her debut album, Heaven is pure soul songwriting (with Ferguson co-writing every track) done English ‘60s style – a Carnaby Street bounce that brings on impressions of Dana Gillespie, Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield.
But Ferguson is one of the rare reality stories that combine built-in integrity and deep talent. She’s got that zen factor, never mind the X-factor, and has the impact of the new.
Like Amy Winehouse, Ferguson sounds ageless and as an old-sounding soul, she finds shelter in classic 1960s Motown and R&B.
Glitter and Gold is a dark minor key cautionary song driven by the Wurlitzer and Ferguson’s edge-of-night delivery. The track is pared down to a grainy representation of a lush and uneasy soul lament; Backtrack has a similar if more urgent edge. The flip side of this are Fairytale (let me live my life this way) and Mr. Bright Eyes, irresistible soul-pop grooves that float Ferguson’s uplifted melodies with the spark lit by girl groups like the Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas.
Although Ferguson’s voice is a splendid instrument, she never succumbs to the wank and drama that have marred the skills of other similarly talented singers; she sings just enough — with the soul of an artist rather than a money-driven insta-star. Her voice gets your attention the only way that matters — through the gut and the heart.
