aaamusic | On 05, Oct 2011

On September 12th celebrated British songstress Gemma Ray released her new four-track EP Runaway on Bronze Rat Records — marking her return to the public eye after an eventful eighteen months of forced exile and international intrigue!

“Runaway” and “Rescue Me” — both from Gemma Ray’s forthcoming album due January 2012 — were recorded at Sydney’s Albert Studios (of AC/DC fame). In Australia on a promo trip last year, Gemma found herself stranded after the Icelandic volcano grounded all flights. Stuck in Sydney for a month, the folks at Albert Studios kindly took Gemma under wing and gave her use of the studio. While on tour, Gemma did more recording in Norway, UK and South Africa, but ultimately came back to Albert Studios last winter to finish the album.

Along with the aforementioned album teasers, Runaway offers a pair of exclusive tracks: “Lights Out Zoltar!” the tune mysteriously omitted from her 2009 critically hailed album of the same name; and Gemma’s cover of The Shangri-La’s girl-group classic “Remember (Walking In the Sand)”. Available in 10” vinyl or as a digital download, the Runaway EP bristles with hooks sharpened to devastating effect, but retains Gemma’s smoothly alluring noir mystique throughout.

In the run-up to the release of her new album, Gemma Ray also plans to put out a collection of soundtrack, instrumental and choral music that she has recorded in her new hometown, Berlin. Gemma recently relocated to Berlin, in part to evade the attentions of a persistent non compos mentis “admirer” — the subject matter of the song “Here Comes The Light” which can be heard on http://www.gemmaray.tv as well as on her forthcoming album.

Some lucky audiences got a glimpse of Gemma Ray’s new material when she and her new band appeared as guests supporting Grinderman and Mick Harvey earlier this summer. Gemma Ray has also recently toured Europe as special guests to Kitty, Daisy & Lewis:

Oct 19th London, UK – Bethnal Green Working Mens Club – £5.00
Ticket are available from:http://www.wegottickets.com/event/133690