Ayala - This Year (2015)

London-Irish singer/songwriter Ayala's career is most definitely on the up with an invitation from Sir Paul McCartney to sing at a private party plus her very own music show now airing on Irish television. The debut album from Ayala will do her ascending career no harm either and showcases the multi-faceted singer's ability to offer up something polished but rootsy that suggest an art forged and refined through years on the London indie scene and latterly as a BBC Introducing artist. The punchy defiance of "Russian Roulette" kicks off an album full of attitude and passion that sees Ayala tackle a number of different everyday subject matters (as opposed to directly referencing her Christian faith) from homesickness in "5157 Miles" to the relationship struggles of "Maybe" - all delivered in a vocal style that is right at home in Radio 2 airplay territory. Add to the mix some delightfully quirky moments such as the inclusion of the Batman riff in the spiky "Don't Fix It" and a fantastic brass section on "Sirens" and you have a hugely enjoyable release from an artist to watch out for. ~Reviewed by Lins Honeyman


Tracklist:
1.01 - Ayala - Russian Roulette (3:04)
1.02 - Ayala - Maybe (3:32)
1.03 - Ayala - 5157 Miles (Album Version) (3:44)
1.04 - Ayala - Don't Fix It (2:46)
1.05 - Ayala - This Year (Remastered) (2:52)
1.06 - Ayala - Merry Go Round (3:44)
1.07 - Ayala - Sirens (3:03)
1.08 - Ayala - Story (3:26)
1.09 - Ayala - On My Way (Album Version) (3:06)