Asha Ali
s/t
NONS
Ashi Ali is another promising, beguiling talent for pop panache and at time captivating compositions built on piano. Judge Miss Ali on one song: "To bed" and she will own you. It could have been written by Damian Rice but, while the musical base is not a million miles away from The Tiny, it might be the crescendos? Indeed, Ali has a similarity in tone to Asa of Hell on Wheels and "Fire, fire" is surely the long lost First Floor Power epitaph? "These months" offers darting and swirling epic psyche. "Are you here soon" is a delicate little waltz meets country number, "Warm fronts" comes out of Portishead territory, "Somewhere else" could've been a Cardigans album classic. All impressive comparisons - it is a bit fraught at times, but musically deft - so when Ali decides her fuller path, she will be [even more] genius, because here are 11 smoldering teasers, and not a jot to hamper the Ali's credibility.
- Jason Christie