A few weeks ago, I reviewed the debut CD from Falmouth High School student Tommy Bazarian, a terrific musician despite being just a teenager. This week, allow me to introduce you to another young and certainly impressive artist, Waynflete graduate and South Portland resident Amy Allen.

Allen has just released her debut EP, “Honey,” and the five songs on it will have you nodding your head and asking yourself, “Is she really only 18 years old?” Yep. She is. “Honey’s” got four Allen originals and a cover of the Estelle/Kanye West song “American Boy.”

Hear the title track with vocals from Jason Spooner, along with Sarah Logan and Melissa Bragdon (Jerks of Grass) playing their mesmerizing fiddles, at www.myspace.com/amyallenmusic.

Carter Logan from Jerks of Grass is all over the EP with his guitar. The other players are Chuck Gagne (The Lucid), Stu Mahan (The Awesome) and Jonathan Wyman. Wyman also produced, recorded and mixed “Honey” at his studio, The Halo.

“Whisper, whisper my way now, ’cause I love to hear what you say, even if you just breathe it would be fine by me,” sings Allen with a bright, bold voice.

“Love Fool” is a jumpy pogo-stick song with hand claps, a superb bass line and lots of “wahoo-oo-oo’s” from Allen. “Tomorrow” is “Honey” at its most poignant. “Can we save goodbye, another day or time cause those words seem so bad, so old,” asks Allen while perfection from the band happens.

the way, Allen spent last summer teaching and working in Africa, and the proceeds from “Honey” benefit the Tanzanian Children’s Fund (www.tanzanianchildrensfund.org).

Pick up a copy of “Honey” at El Rayo Taqueria, where Allen’s working this summer before heading off to college.

Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. Contact her at:

aimselponti@yahoo.com.

 

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