Track Listing

1. Quick Fix
2. Game Over
3. Shark In The Water
4. LEAVE!
5. Bottles
6. Crying Blood
7. Back In Time
8. I Love You
9. L.O.V.E
10. Everybody
11. Crazy Amazing
12. Travelling Like The Light

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #510 in Music
• Released on: 2009-07-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 39 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
VV Brown bears all the hallmarks of your standard one hit wonder. The frenzied hysteria of "Crying Blood"--essentially a thoroughly modern makeover for "Monster Mash"--made an arresting impression at impact, sirens blazing in a heavy handed raid on the '50s. As singles go, it’s probably one of 2009’s best and set an unbearably high benchmark for the album. The surprise then is how watertight the remaining 11 tracks on Travelling Like The Light are. There’s the hint of a doo-wop revival (see also "Leave!" and "L.O.V.E") and an R&B underlay, though it doesn’t necessarily follow that it’s got much soul to speak of; she’s no threat to the likes of Amy Winehouse or Adele, or even Lily Allen, for instance. That matters not though as this album’s intentions are direct and remain fiercely on target. "Quick Fix" (which is about right) opens the album and ushers you to the dance floor in much the same way the B52s' classic "Love Shack" still does, by essentially stealing its drums. But it’s also much more up to date than that and "Crying Blood" suggest. The strummed sweetness of "Shark In The Water" and rigorous strike-a-pose pop of "Game On" compete on an even high-production playing field with the likes of Katy Perry and Pink and ensure we’ll have to count to two, if not much higher, before the year's out. --James Berry

CD Description
V V Brown is a singer, a songwriter, a performer, multi-instrumentalist and a producer, who first came to attention after landing an upfront slot on Later With Jools Holland. Her performance on the show won her a lot of admirers, including Damon Albarn, who invited her to perform on his Africa Exprez adventure in Lagos. Though music has always been a big part of V Vs life, with early influences including Ruth Brown, Elvis Presley and, just as importantly, the music from Super Marioland.

Travelling Like The Light, is a perfect introduction to the 25-year old’s sound. In this young lady’s world, love sounds like the perfect melody. Both are difficult to define she says, but both pour out of the songs on her debut album. This is music which sounds like performance: dramatic, charismatic and, frequently, as mad as a box of frogs. This is high definition, high concept pop with scuffed edges and laddered tights. V V describes her music as "musical mashed potatoes", which must, therefore, make her songs "smash hits"--but there’s nothing instant or synthetic about these pop tunes. Her songs are instantly addictive and unmistakably honest, with lyrics asking "what the bloody point is" answered by melodies full of life and reasons to be cheerful. The contradiction works, throwing the listener from happy to sad and back again in the space of three minutes.

Customer Reviews

V V Brown - Travelling Like the Light
VV Brown's sound is quirky, funky, modern and addictive. I haven't got this excited about a CD in a long time - this one is amazing!!

Having never heard of her before, I bought 'Travelling Like the Light' on the strength of the single "Shark in the Water", which was individual enough to get into my psyche from the very first listen. The rest of the album has definitely earned her a place in my top five, and I can't stop listening to it! My favourite track (one that embodies everything I think she aspires to be) is "Everybody" - its off-beat rhythm gives it an edgy, unique appeal, and is a stand out track from an already remarkable and fantastic album.

Definitely a CD to recommend, definitely getting some quality time in my CD player and definitely an artist to keep an eye on - many more exciting things to come, I hope!! A top-notch CD :-)

A bit of a let-down
About a year or so ago I saw VV Brown on "Later... with Jools Holland" where she performed "Crying Blood", and I thought she was great, a lively performance combined with a song which sounded fresh but retro at the same time, plus she had a winning look. I heard the other singles too, "LEAVE!" also enjoyable, and "Shark In The Water" a piece of polished pop which sounded quite unlike the other singles. I was looking forward to the album.

Sadly the finished product is a bit of a disappointment after the first listen. My immediate impression of the package was that maybe the record company had got a little too involved in the project, as not only has the artwork been changed from the original design which has been on Amazon for some time now (the finished design is the yellow portrait you see on this page) plus one song has no songwriting involvement from VV herself, and it just so happens to be the strongest and most commercial song - the previously mentioned "Shark In The Water". Could her label have meddled with the track listing I wonder?

The album begins fairly messily. "Quick Fix" sounds a little awkward, almost atonal in places, and her voice jars slightly, but "Game Over" is better. "Shark In The Water" is a slick pop song with a great chorus, easily the most commercial and radio-friendly track here, but as I mentioned before it wasn't written (or co-written) by VV herself, unlike the other tracks. After this opening bunch the album becomes a little more varied, mixing slower songs ("Bottles", "I Love You", and the title track) with more uptempo tracks, but it seems a little forced and uneven. There are some very good tracks here, but on the whole it feels a little messy, as though too many people got involved in the project and tried to force it in different directions.

As I said earlier, this is my opinion of the album after just one listen, but where I hoped it would blow me away it just left a slight feeling of disappointment. Hopefully it will grow on me over time.

Fab Live, Looking forward to the Album
Saw her live this week supporting Ting Tings. Stole the show in my opinion; if the album's as good as the live performance this will be great. Great Voice, great backing band; bit of a rock and roll vibe going on. Was a very pleasant surprise.
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