Brooke Combe - Dancing At The Edge Of The World

Modern Sky Records

Brooke Combe's debut, 'Dancing At The Edge Of The World', walks a tightrope between polish and passion. Recorded live to tape with The Coral's James Skelly at the helm, the Scottish vocalist brings a voice that could shake the rafters but sometimes feels trapped behind the pristine glass of too-careful production.

'The Last Time' lets Combe's powerhouse vocals meet their match in an arrangement that pushes and pulls with genuine chemistry, while 'Lanewood Pines' weaves a tapestry of backing harmonies that capture the summer soul spirit she's clearly chasing. When everything clicks - as it does on the effortlessly graceful 'If I Could Only Be Yours', which has a touch of Olivia Dean about it - Combe proves she knows exactly how to deploy her considerable talents. The problem isn't technical ability, of which there's plenty, but rather an album that seems afraid to ruffle its own perfectly-pressed clothes. For every moment of interest or joy, there's a cloud of overthinking hovering nearby.

What we're left with is a calling card that showcases immense promise while keeping its most interesting instincts on a tight leash. Combe has all the tools to craft something extraordinary - now she just needs to throw away the instruction manual and trust her own blueprint.