Dot Allison – ‘Beneath The Ivy’ (Universal Digital) Released 28/08/06

This is a pensive collection from Dot Allison. It’s musically far more bare than her earlier offerings like ‘Stepping Stone’. Sometimes it strays from being pensive into being downright sentimental and bleak. Her voice has breathless quality and could be likened to a sweet summer white wine. It’s light and refreshing but it could all go terribly wrong if you have too much. Lyrically the majority of the EP remains a heartbeat away from being depressing. There’s some very skillful guitar and violin in this EP courtesy of Ian Button (ex Death In Vegas) and Lucy Wilkins (Massive Attack), but it fails to be lifted even when the harmonica kicks in on ‘Paper Rose’, which is  arguably the best track out of the 3 featured here.  Dot is currently working on a full length release with Daniel Johnston’s producer Kramer.  If this is a taster of things to come someone should buy Dot some chocolate and give her a big hug or kick her up the arse.