Duffy - Rockferry
[Polydor]

After an ill-fated re-union with Brett Anderson through The Tears, Bernard Butler seems unperturbed and may have now found a new groove, as he provides the lion-share of an expansive, slow enveloping and creeping backdrop.

This allows the Ani-Di Franco, Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield conjoining vocals of North Wales-bred Duffy to communicate her aching poetry, full of bite and soul.

Duffy sings and writes with authority and a life weariness to rival an early Dylan and a late Leonard Cohen. This could be the start of a searching and expressive partnership.