Anyone familiar with the Birmingham music scene over the past five years and, in particular, the excellent twice-yearly Songwriters Festival, will need no introduction to the extraordinary talent of Carina Round. For those who haven't been initiated, this single, trailering the soon to be released second album The Disconnection, is a pretty good introduction.
The most obvious comparison, in terms of the song's raw, primal energy, is early PJ Harvey, with touches of Joni Mitchell and Carina's great heroine, the recently deceased Nina Simone. In her lyrics, Carina strips away the artifice of personal relationships to reveal the visceral urges and desires beneath. It makes for gripping, and sometimes disturbing listening - don't expect to hear this on Radio 2 - but makes a change from the pre-packaged pap filling up the singles racks.
Two non-album tracks, Hookah and Body Shaped Bruise, complete a release that doesn't so much insinuate as bludgeon its way into your consciousness. Remarkable.
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