Gemma was stranded in Australia in spring 2010 after the volcanic eruption in Iceland grounded all flights. This unexpected downtime pushed her into shaping the embryo of Island Fire at Alberts Studio in Sydney (of AC/DC legacy) with Michael Szumowski and Andy Zammit. So pleased was she with the results that she decided to return in 2011 to finish it, (after stints recording on the island of Giske in northern Norway and in the Isle of Dogs, London). These circumstances and these environments go some way in explaining the inspiration behind the album title.
Island Fire was an album that showcased Gemma at new heights of her songwriting and production powers, creating an album rich with lavish orchestral alt-pop (They All Wanted A Slice, Bring Ring Ring Yeah), intimate showstoppers (Flood and a Fire, I Can See You), ubiquitous and bitter-sweet girl- group-sounds (Put Your Brain In Gear, Rescue Me), brooding and epic psychedelia (Make It Happen) and more besides. Reviews: “Packed with thoughtful adventure and mischief. A true gem” - MOJO **** / “This national treasure’s songs offer bouquets of bespoke thrills and spills of the sort that make
Lana del Rey seem like a very poor relation” – THE MIRROR **** / “Fabulous. She proves she is tasteful as well as gifted” – Q **** / "Thoroughly enjoyable and admirably eclectic" - SUNDAY TIMES **** / "Stylistically grand and wilfully eccentric" - WORD **** / "Another gem from Gemma." - STOOL PIGEON **** / "Island Fire is guaranteed to light up your life. Deserves commercial success on a scale as grand as the arrangements that frame these songs" - THE SUN **** / "Ray braids reverberating pop-noir and moody twang with a sharp melodic edge and cutting wit. Should crank up her cult kudos!" - INDEPENDENT **** /
"An evocative album that draws on surf-rock, 60s girlgroup, gothic folk and dust-covered blues" - UNCUT **** / "Luminous ...spritely.....thrilling" - ARTROCKER **** / “An artist clearly in a field of one and quite brilliant dancing by herself” - BBC / "Crisp, sideways blues and deliciously creeping malevolence!" – NME / “Like watching an established comedian inadvertently breaking character, there is an extremely satisfying sense of fun throughout 'Island Fire' (despite the dark content) and Ray is very much in on the joke” – THIS IS FAKE DIY / "Dashing preconceptions at every turn, Island Fire effortlessly blends incongruent genres into unified, joyful and flamboyant sounds." - LOUDER THAN WAR
Includes unlimited streaming of Island Fire
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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Island Fire Vinyl Gatefold
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Includes unlimited streaming of Island Fire
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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