It's been quite a journey for 25-year-old Virginia Wigmore, with the standout success of her 2009 debut album Holy Smoke, and now Gravel & Wine. The first thing that strikes you is the energy of Gin's songwriting, very personal and mature. The first five tracks are pretty much full-on pop/rock,led out by the first single, Black Sheep, with Man Like That and Poison also top shelf.
Then there's a mood change as Gin morphs into a gorgeous piano-based balled, If Only, with an almost Adele-like sound. Brilliant. The Devil in Me is bound to be a single, too, with a more poppy feel. Gin comes across as an international quality act on Gravel & Wine, a far cry from baking one too many lemon meringue pies on the West Coast not so long ago.
