Rock ‘n’ Reel – 8th December 2011

4*

Plenty of teenage girls have got together dreaming of making it. Most will have been singing into hairbrushes and wondering how to impress on The X Factor. However, it’s clear that One Sixth Of Tommy were studiously practicing their scales and perfecting their Suzanne Vega tunes.
For this trio of nineteen-year-olds the hard work has paid off, resulting in an accomplished set of acoustic-tinged pop songs. The influences are simultaneously contemporary and classic. There’s more than a hint of Feist or Colbie Caillat in many of the songs while the vocal harmonies recall The Cranberries. ‘The Pact’ has a subtle hint of The Ting Tings about it but actually delivers a ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ for the iPad generation.
A strong emphasis on the melody betrays a maturity well beyond the girls’ tender years. Track after track presents tiny pieces of irresistible ear candy, ‘Everything’s OK’ and ‘In The Sun’ in particular lingering in the subconscious. With the recent success of acts like The Webb Sisters and The Pierces the market seems wide open for One Sixth Of Tommy to bring their beguiling blend of intelligent pop, luscious harmonies and youthful enthusiasm to a winder audience. Trevor Raggatt