Sally Pepper
Unsolicited Opinions
Horn And Hoof Records
Just when you thought the art of being a solo artist with real meaning and a unifying message was fizzling out along comes Sally Pepper to reignite that most important part of the music scene. Comparisons have been made with Billy Bragg’s early work but Pepper is an entirely different artist, one who is making her mark in a vastly changing world. Here we see all her previous hard work come of age with ever more vibrant song writing and a band sound that adds depth when needed. You still get the best of that incredible ability to connect with the listener, the words sung with passion cut ever deeper, the guitar work is more mature. The lyrics are as astute as ever while the vocals have the perfect balance of clean warmth and edgy fry. This isn’t just a very good record, it’s exceptional in every department. With punk roots but also highly accessible to a wider audience this deserves to be the big breakout album for one of the underground scene’s finest young musicians.
Review by Gary Trueman