Jemima Price - Easy

History may be a touch unkind, but I can't recall that many influential female artists. Of course there's Joni Mitchell's and the Debbie Harry's of this world but what really did the 90s thrown up in terms of female talent. A million girl bands, a handful of female fronted indie bands. Perhaps its only Bjork who consistently through the 90s strived to make innovative music. Its appropriate at the beginning of the nu-millenium then that we are graced by an female artist worthy of such praise - Jemima Price. Wipe the smirk from your face and the images of Children's TV and you're left with an astoundingly beautiful album.

From the opener "House Of Love" to the closing "One For The Road" its an exotic journey through the eyes of poetic mind. Perhaps its a love of literature or an imaginative mind but to call Jemima Price a lyricist is simply an insult. Its almost a case of The Short Stories of Oscar Wilde sung to music. Like Bjork before her she manages to bridge the gap between the eccentric and the mainstream. On the sexually charged "2 Boys" Jemima is set to become the latest celebrity Fag Hag with a camp disco anthem. Move over Ms Halliwell, you are surplus to requirements. Once you think you have her pinned down as a disco diva she moves on with an acoustic ballad like "Brings It All Back". Is she a pop star? Is she a rock star? Is she a folk singer? You decide.

In a time where music has become homogenized to set requirements of what you can and can't do, its great to see someone ripping up the rule book and starting again. When Debbie Harry stated that the "only people who can contribute to rock music now are woman and gays" perhaps she had a point. Jemima Price has made an album that is not only a joy to listen to but also one of the most innovative albums you are likely to hear this year. It seems appropriate then that the song that sets to send her into the mainstream is a cover of Blondie's "Denis".

Alex McCann