Foreign Slippers - Oh Death EP

As comfortable and familiar as an old pair of baffies, yet blessed with just enough originality and freshness to distinguish her from many of her crooning contemporaries, Gabrielle Froden has picked her subtly contradictory moniker well. The five tracks on Oh Death combine soulful gospel touches with plaintive piano balladry to produce an enjoyable debut that never breaks the mould or journeys outwith the favoured palette of the sensitive acoustic singer-songwriter – melancholy piano, yearning lyrics, bittersweet harmonies – but never falters either. Opener Packed the Car is an early highlight, echoing fellow Swede Frida Hyvönen’s luscious pop sensibilities, while the closing Lovers is a mournful lament lifted by haunting woodwind. Unadventurous perhaps, but gorgeous nonetheless. [Chris Buckle]