Jo Mango – Paperclips And Sand (Lo-Five Records).

This is the debut album from the much feted Glasgow based songwriter and with labels such as Island and Fiction courting her it is eagerly awaited. Showing an independent streak and spurning the majors may have been a mistake but on listening to what she has produced I think that she has made the right decision. She opens with My Lung, a simple vehicle for her childlike voice – simply beautiful. Tea Lights introduces guitar for the first time but it is her cool, clear voice that is the real star. She has a quality to her signing that I have not heard for some time. Alan Peacock duets vocally on the standout track, Gomer, on which we have two singers giving it their all on an epic song. This is acoustic brilliance. We have here the next Scottish star and her beautiful and simple music on tracks such as How I’d Be will have you hooked. You wouldn’t expect to find a waltz on a modern album but Jo manages to squeeze one in with Waltz With Me and this, played on guitar and flute, is quite hypnotic.

Being from Scotland you should expect some Celtic tinged songs and you will not be disappointed with the stunning, folksy Take Me Back on which she draws on all of her history. Hard Day is slightly reminiscent of an acoustic Alanis Morrissette but don’t be fooled, Jo is very much her own woman. Blue Light highlights her lovely voice and how well she uses it. This is moody and evocative and the electric guitars add to that mood. It also shows that she can perform with a band as well as a solo artist. She returns to acoustic for Harlow 1959 (a fine year that was) and this is another epic of a song. This is where the albums title comes from but I still haven’t a clue what it’s about though. The album ends with Bonus Track (don’t know if this is the title or if it really is a bonus track) and it is just so deceptively simple. If anything, that will be her trademark. This girl is destined for higher things – mark my words.

http://www.jomango.co.uk/

Copyright David Blue 2006.