Chicas! Spanish Female Singers 1962-1974

Billed as an irresistible blend of ye-ye, rock n roll, twist, beat, garage, rhythm and blues, soul and latin, this is an entertaining and varied bunch of sixties inspired Spanish stormers. Beware however, this is the campest collection of songs outside of a camper van parked in a camp site in Campania (look it up geography fans). The highlights, and there are plenty, are as follows:

Note; there are no pictures of Margaret Sierra, possibly due to her untimely death, so you'll have to make do with generic sixties cha cha dancers.

Margaret Sierra – Cha Cha Twist

Super camp twisting fun with over the top latin vocals.

Marisa looking cool in the sixties.

Marisa Medina – No te acuerdas de mi

Great intro, twangy guitar and groovy flute action.

Sadly, it's this Sonia...

Sonia – Aqui en mi nube

Cover of the Stones’ ‘Get off my Cloud’ and much better than the original it is too. I doubt it’s the Scouse 80’s Sonia but who knows? (Everyone now - see below)

...not this one.

Alicia Granados – Batiendo Palmas

Top squeaky voice action.

Fresia Soto – Desencadena mi Corazon

The best song from the compilation and the only one that holds water outside of the camp world of Chicas! Proper Latin soul.

Encarnita Polo – Hava Naguila

My personal favourite as they’ve turned this traditional Jewish song into a sing-a-long classic. And the chorus also sounds like a football chant.

All things considered, an unusual and good value compilation. An ideal Christmas present in my opinion.

Missy Higgins - Where I Stood

Pick of the Week 18 - Missy Higgins

She looks a little like children's TV favourite Emma Forbes, has an endearing chin dimple, a nice wooly hat and scarf combo and supports all manner of good causes from Animal Rights to Mental Health charities. Surprisingly she's also a talented singer/songwriter at the non-quirky end of the female singer/writer spectrum, with 'Where I Stood' showcasing her folky, country-tinged charms beautifully. Not for the first time it's Australia dominating another Pick of the Week selection and Down Under is fast becoming a home from home for Into the Valley. Sadly the video looks like it was shot in Wakefield Kirkgate station: cheer up love, it might never happen!

 

Polly Scattergood - Polly Scattergood LP 2009

I've had this for a while, but never quite fancied giving it a listen. The CD cover is hardly inspiring and somehow screams 'average quirky female singer' at you. Surprisingly, it's a little better than that, but still inhabits a territory somewhere between Laura Marling and a Kate Bush album track.

You get the feeling that if Polly was allowed to really let rip and escape the quirky straight-jacket, the whole experience would be far more pleasurable and entertaining. There are odd promising moments of pure originality on the album which have somehow sneaked under the record company's radar; the end sequence of 'I hate the way' is a case in point, and my favourite part of the record. 'Poem Song' has an equal lack of commercial value and we are rewarded with another gem rather than the stereotypical quirkiness.

Hopefully Polly Scattergood will be allowed or feel confident enough to make her next album her own vision. Forget formulaic female singer/songwriter standard offerings (Don't Touch) and scream, shout, wail, yodel and produce something different. She ought to aim to be far more of a Lena Lovich than a Lisa Hannigan in my opinion. Don't judge it by the cover, it's definitely worth a listen.