Holly Taymar - EP (Genie Cake Records) By Nick Quantrill

EP is a limited edition release from York's Holly Taymar. Her critically acclaimed debut album, Less Than Nothing, was very much a jazz influenced record, yet it wasn't without one eye on capturing a wider audience for her music. This follow-up EP retains strong jazz elements but also incorporates a more commercial approach that hints at the direction her forthcoming full-length release will take.

The major development from her debut album is that Holly is now writing the bulk of her own material. On Less Than Nothing, the experienced song-writing team of Lisa Baker and Catherine Gowan provided all the tracks. Here, they provide only one of the tracks. The five tracks provided by Holly demonstrate a young writer with a wide range of influences. The sound of slick jazz-pop acts like Norah Jones and Jamie Callum are still to the fore on Chasing Rainbows but there are echoes of mainstream singer-songwriters such as Damien Rice on Indian Sky and Shoes.

As you would expect, the more experienced songwriters provide the strongest of the tracks on the EP. Getting Ready For No-one is a fine showcase for all that is good about Holly's vocal talents; warm and economical, it's a simple yet effective piano-led track.

This release sees Holly Taymar again demonstrates an enviable vocal quality that few artists can equal. Unfortunately, on occasion she hides behind this and her vocals substitute their usual warmth for an unnecessarily fussy delivery reminiscent of the likes of Joss Stone. Hopefully this is a teething problem that can be rectified as she establishes her own musical identity. Her debut album's warmth and simplicity was its strength and certain tracks on this EP suggest that she can assimilate this with a wider musical approach.

This is very much a transitional record for Holly Taymar as it sees her move towards an approach much more in tune with contemporary pop music, while also being a record that sees a young writer striving to establish herself. Inevitably this means that the results aren't perfect, but it's still recommended listening as it sets things up nicely for her next full-length release. Holly Taymar plays Stripped, The Wellington Pub, Hull on 1st December 2005. Review of Holly Taymar's debut album by Nick Quantrill

www.hollytaymar.com www.geniecake.co.uk

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