Pop-noir songstress from deepest Essex delivers a charismatic, stripped-down covers album recorded in five days in New York City.

On ‘It’s A Shame About Gemma Ray’ everyone from Lee Hazlewood to Sonic Youth via The Gun Club and Etta James gets the unique Gemma Ray treatment. Other covers include songs made famous by Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald, Mudhoney, Buddy Holly and George Gershwin.

Recorded by Matt Verta-Ray (Speedball Baby, Madder Rose, Heavy Trash) at his famous analogue Hed Studio, this features just Gemma on guitar and organ with touches of Matt on guitar and drums.

One of the highlights of this grainy, truthful, wonderfully varied album is mashup of the lyrics to Sonic Youth’s ‘Drunken Butterfly’ set to the theme from the classic movie ‘Rosemary’s Baby’.

Her previous album released in late 2009 is still gaining plaudits, winning the Best Eclectic Album category at the last Independent Music Awards judged by the likes of Tom Waits, Aimee Mann and The Black Keys. It also made the Wall Street Journal’s Albums Of The Year list.

Here summer itinerary takes in LA, New York City (where she’ll be recording as The Oubliettes with Matt Verta-Ray once more), Norway, South Africa (where she’ll be recording with a full African choir, and Australia (where she’ll be appearing on cult TV show ‘Spicks And Specks’).

Fans of Gemma Ray include Jimmy Page, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Beth
Orton, Seasick Steve and many more.