Album Review: Gin Wigmore - Ivory

Kiwi Gin Wigmore's fourth longplayer is funky and full of energy.

With a distinctive but finely mastered gravelly tone that places her as equal parts diva and rock goddess, even the grumpiest listener would be hard-pressed to stay unmoved by this disc. First single Cabrona is catchy as hell with its chorus calling on all 'bad girls' - a lovely few minutes of pop with classic production. Think early Madonna meets Motown. It's a style Wigmore returns to a few times on the album. The single serves as the perfect teaser for the album, with opening tracks Hallow Fate and Beatnik Trip cut from the same pop meets gentle funk cloth. Things get heavier with Young Ones and Dirty Mercy, with the latter complete with very satisfying distortion to fade.

A change of pace (literally) comes mid-album with Cold Cave and Fall Out Of Love, both croon-worthy lighter-in-the-air ballads that get you swaying along before you realise. Closer Girl Gang leaves a strong mark to close - another strong femme anthem drawing on Pink, Sia and a little Rihanna for good measure. Unashamedly political and celebratory all at once, most importantly, here's another solid tune to deliver the message.