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Although she was pleasant enough when I stopped her in Camden High Street, she wasn’t up for an interview. Perhaps it was the day after she’d been out on the tiles with her mate, Kelly Osborne? On the face of it, Amy and Kelly would seem to be a dangerous combination bearing in mind the subject matter of the first single off the album, ‘Rehab’. Typically in her Kick Ass Attitude, this is one of the six tracks produced by Mark Ronson (look out for the ‘Rehab’ Hot Chip remix).

It’s a bit of a coup to have New York’s Ronson while the other half of the album is produced by Salaam Remi, who did her jazzier debut album Frank. Her more soulful approach on the new one seems to have attracted a wider audience than the “jazz crooner” debut album.

Amy is currently on a sell out tour and getting great reviews with equal attention spent on her private life (See Evening Standard, Koko, Mornington Crescent) and her music. Koko was her second “home town” gig after previewing the album back in September at Bar Solo in Inverness St.

‘Just Friends’ is a rock steady groover with a twist of soul. Getting back to Phil Spector and some doo-wop, ‘Mr & Mr Jones’ is pure 50s meets Frank Zappa.

‘Back To Black’ majors on the twangy guitar, vibes, strings wall of sound (Mark, have you been listening to Lee Hazelwood?). Now Winehouse could do a good cover version of ‘These Boots Were Made For Walking’.

As well done as ‘Love is a Losing Hand’ is, it’s too sugary for me but in a similar lost love mode, ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’ is a big modern-day Northern Soul tune that your traditionalist won’t go for, but it’d be a shame to miss it if you are more open minded.

‘Wake Up Alone’ is another sad one and ‘He Can Only Hold Her’ has some heavy horns to downtempo ‘breaks’ and it is a bit of a grower.

So put the Shangri-Las, Ray Charles, The Bodysnatchers and a jazz heritage in the blender and you get the idea; now that’s what I call a good mixer. And little known Amy fact, apparently her grandmother was engaged to Ronnie Scott and she’s not long since moved to Muswell Hill. Probably a good move that one and the neighbours will be converted and will be picking up this album. Goes down well with a drink (it’s only 35 minutes long) on the ‘virtual’ jukebox.

Hectic Mix nomination: ‘Just Friends’, My Tears Dry On Their Own’, ‘Mr & Mr Jones’, ‘He Can Only Hold Her’

Reviewed: Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (Universal Island Records) Cat. No. 171 304-1
Release date: 30 Oct 2006 Producer - Mark Ronson (tracks: 1,2,5,6,8,10) , Salaam Remi (tracks: 3,4,7,9,11)

Tracklisting:
1 Rehab (3:34)
2 You Know I’m No Good (4:17)
3 Me And Mr Jones (2:33)
4 Just Friends (3:13)
5 Back To Black (4:01)
6 Love Is A Losing Game (2:35)
7 Tears Dry On Their Own (3:06)
8 Wake Up Alone (3:42)
9 Some Unholy War (2:22)
10 He Can Only Hold Her (2:46)
11 Addicted (2:45)

Links:
www.amywinehouse.com