May 7, 2000

Gray, David : Babylon

Admired by stoned students, adored by intense, wannabe-middle-aged couples and, of course, the Honda music of choice from the more fashion-conscious parent...

This summer, Gray plays just about every festival going, radio stations everywhere are already frothing at the mouth about his recent album, 'White Ladder', (which has outsold just about everything else in Ireland) and all this has happened with only the merest trace of excitable promotion. We all know singer-songwriters are the devil's children but it's still not impossible to understand the fuss. All understated Irish melodies and dominant vocals, Gray sings like a male Tracy Chapman, a laid-back country version of Richard Ashcroft. In chartland, Gray is a mature step up from Gomez; admired by stoned students, adored by intense, wannabe-middle-aged couples and, of course, the Honda music of choice from the more fashion-conscious parent. If that's all you need from a record, David Gray does the job better than most. A stylish, understated addition to coffee tables everywhere.

SIOBHAN GROGAN