Music
VV Brown: 'Travelling Like The Light'
Released on Monday, Jul 13 2009
Published Wednesday, Jul 15 2009, 15:08 BST | By Nick Levine | 6 comments

However, if Brown is feeling anxious about her future, it hasn't seeped into her music. Travelling Like The Light is an album of catchy, exuberant retro-pop whose best moments have all the fizz of a shaken up can of coke. Though Brown is prone to wearing her influences on her sleeve, even borrowing the bassline from 'Oh, Pretty Woman' for 'Quick Fix', this album crackles with so much unpredictable energy that it never comes across as mere pastiche. Then again, what sort of sixties retread would feature the Gameboy-like electro blips that pepper tracks like 'L.O.V.E.' and 'Crying Blood'?
As well as a collection of zesty retro-pop tunes, Travelling Like The Light is also a break-up record - one inspired by what Brown calls a "total catastrophe" of a relationship. The 25-year-old Northampon lass is a resilient sort though, giving herself a stiff talking to on 'Leave!', flicking a V-sign at her ex on 'Game Over', and offering a blunt ultimatum on 'Back In Time': "If you don't want me near, why don't you disappear?" However, in spite of everything she's been through, she's also a hopeless romantic, a trait that manifests itself when the album occasionally slips into mushiness.
Thankfully, this is a minor quibble on a debut that paints Brown as a talented songwriter, an inventive producer and a singer capable of everything from playful shrieks ('Quick Fix') to hushed, soulful intimacy ('I Love You'). She may be unlikely to join fellow newcomers La Roux and Florence & The Machine at the top of the charts, but there are enough good ideas here to keep that shark at bay for a while yet.

> Click here to read our recent interview with VV Brown
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Caitlin, Yorkshire, on August 12th, 2009
This album is amazing! It's one of the only albums where I like every single track, especially Shark In The Water. All the tracks are catchy and fun, and I hope she gets as much recognition as La Roux/Florence and the Machine because she deserves it.
This album is amazing! It's one of the only albums where I like every single track, especially Shark In The Water. All the tracks are catchy and fun, and I hope she gets as much recognition as La Roux/Florence and the Machine because she deserves it.
Aj, on July 19th, 2009
too be completely honest i have never had an album like this before. I love every single song on it. Its a shame that people have not grasped her music like La Roux or Little Boots but i've got to say shes better than them all. People really need to look into VV's music because they will not be disappointed. I feel as thought her success is being over-shadowed when she has the brightest music in the charts. She is the best new artist of 2009 by a mile!
too be completely honest i have never had an album like this before. I love every single song on it. Its a shame that people have not grasped her music like La Roux or Little Boots but i've got to say shes better than them all. People really need to look into VV's music because they will not be disappointed. I feel as thought her success is being over-shadowed when she has the brightest music in the charts. She is the best new artist of 2009 by a mile!
Alex, Kent, on July 17th, 2009
Very, very impressive. If you're in two minds about buying this album then go for it. It's only £5.99 on iTunes and includes her 3 music videos. Outstanding value for money. The album is fantastic, it's a shame she isn't getting the recognition of La Roux and Little Boots as her album holds together so much better than theirs.
Very, very impressive. If you're in two minds about buying this album then go for it. It's only £5.99 on iTunes and includes her 3 music videos. Outstanding value for money. The album is fantastic, it's a shame she isn't getting the recognition of La Roux and Little Boots as her album holds together so much better than theirs.
Katie, on July 16th, 2009
I love this album and I love VV Brown! I recommend it, every track is amazing! Especially Shark In The Water, love that song!
I love this album and I love VV Brown! I recommend it, every track is amazing! Especially Shark In The Water, love that song!
Jared, on July 16th, 2009
Just bought this album today and it has been on non stop this is an awesome album MUST BUY ALBUM SHARK IN THE WATER MUST BUY SINGLE ** HELP VV BROWN ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS SHE DESERVES SPREAD THE WORD **
Just bought this album today and it has been on non stop this is an awesome album MUST BUY ALBUM SHARK IN THE WATER MUST BUY SINGLE ** HELP VV BROWN ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS SHE DESERVES SPREAD THE WORD **







I saw VV Brown supporting P!nk recently and I decided to finally give her album a listen. I've got to say it's definitely a perfect debut, catchy yet not comprising of VV's character, while being emotional yet not overwrought and simply full of raw energy. I hope her second album (or a re-release of this one) can give her the recognition she deserves.