Rumer

Seasons of the Soul Atlantic ****

The pitch for "One to Watch in 2011" starts here. Perhaps we're a tad early, but after more than several listens to this debut from Pakistan-born Rumer (aka Sarah Joyce, and yes, there's an Irish connection on her mother's side) you quickly get the picture: this is no breezy add-on to Lily Allen, Kate Nash or Eliza Doolittle. Think of Karen Carpenter, Judee Sill and Laura Nyro. In her early 30s, Rumer is not a naive lyric writer; songs such as Slow, Take Me As I Am, Saving Grace, Healerand Blackbirdhave a knot of real life, tension, despair and resolve running through them, yet each are sung so beautifully and gracefully it would be a hard nut that wouldn't crack under their collective weight. Two weeks ago she was a support act in Dublin's Academy; this time next year it'll be more people and bigger venues. See rumer.co.uk

Download tracks: Slow, Saving Grace, Healer