From the initial outset, any of those familiar with the husky soulful voice of Duffy may be somewhat knocked for six. As opposed to the habitual dulcet tones typically associated with this Welsh Belle, more of a reggae path vocally has been deployed, perhaps to the tracks detriment. The opening riff to the song, taken from Dawn Penn’s No No No, generates a sense of familiarity, as having listened to the track numerous times, I could not equivocate the niggling feeling that I had heard this somewhere previously. The soulful ‘Big Band’ set up still, is arguably the tracks saving grace, courtesy of The Roots. Duffy delivers the line ‘Well Well Well’ with a more child like screeching, on the contrary to the womanly gravel surrendered in such tracks as Warwick Avenue and Mercy. Although charming and buoyant, this latest attempt from the Welsh starlet is devoid of any concrete substance and, teasing the listener throughout with the prospect of an overwhelming climax, this little lady fails to keep her pinky promises, as the song fades out in just the manner that it started, insipid and monotonous. Being the first song from her eagerly anticipated second album Endlessly, one could only have hoped for something slightly more breathtaking. Not to be mistaken, this song could work as a two dimensional dance track, featuring regularly in a bar or club near you and, will be embedded in your brain just as abruptly (if not more so) than Mercy was. However, perhaps not for the same reasons. One can only hope that the remaining material on the album will prove to be far more show stopping and soulful than this half hearted endeavour.
Renee London
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