Album review: DANA IMMANUEL – Dotted Lines

DANA IMMANUEL - Dotted Lines

Self-release [Release date 23.10.15]

Eight tracks over 32 minutes isn’t the most expansive of albums. But in the case of banjo-toting, whiskey-drinking north London-based singer-songwriter Dana Immanuel, the quality that oozes through every track on the follow up to her equally brief 2011 debut Character Assassination makes it an album well worth exploring.

There seems to be a never ending flow of folk, jazz, and blues influenced Americana releases flowing from across of the Atlantic and there’s been some really exciting artists emerging in recent years – Blame Sally being one in particular. It’s nice, therefore, to see a homegrown talent that equals the best on offer.

With eclectic influences as diverse as Alice Cooper and Hank Williams Immanuel, and following a classical training at Oxford, Immanuel became a professional busker and honed her talent on the London Underground. Her first effort Character Assassination was a quite different kettle of fish – being a fairly ‘neutral’ jazz influenced that only hinted at an Americana bent.

Dotted Lines takes grasps the American theme and proves to the perfect niche for Immanuel’s talents – there’s some lovely acoustic guitar and banjo work, and Immanuel’s vocals are enticing throughout. But as ever, the strength lies in the songs themselves, and the Tijuana brass accompaniment to the tongue in cheek ‘Be Like Arnie’ is the icing on a very fine cake. ****

Review by Pete Whalley

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

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Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
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