(Disclaimer: plenty of Amy Winehouse comparisons ahead.) It’s easy to argue that nothing is original in modern music. But what if some new vocalists decide to plot their path to stardom by directly emulating an old sound? Well, judging from the rise to prominence of two ‘retro’ female artists, we’d say: keep it coming. Last year, Amy Winehouse’s excellent second album Back to Black propelled her to worldwide fame with its modern makeover of the girl-group soul/R&B sound. In 2008, Duffy arrives on the scene with English-language album Rockferry (her Celine Dion-esque 2004 debut EP was sung in Welsh), with an overall package that tips its hat to the grande dame of white soul, Dusty Springfield, and an early Motown sound.

For starters, the girl looks the part. The 23-year-old chanteuse from the tiny Welsh town of Nefyn bears a striking resemblance to the legendary Springfield with her silver-ish blonde hair. Moreover, Duffy’s overall appearance harks back to late-’60s Britain, so much so that she could easily win a cameo role in the next Austin Powers flick. Nevertheless, Duffy is not just about looks. Her vocals are strong and soulful with a touch of class, best heard in ‘Serious’, ‘Warwick Avenue’ and ‘Distant Dreamer’. The strippeddown number ‘Syrup and Honey’ is the highlight of Rockferry – it showcases Duffy’s vocal range, recalling Jackson 5-era Michael Jackson in parts and Dolly Parton in others. On a lighter note, the chart-topping second single ‘Mercy’ – whose singalong chorus line of ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’ counters the ‘No, no, no’ refrain in ‘Rehab’ – is seen as this year’s answer to Winehouse’s smash hit from last year.

Yet this is where the comparisons to Winehouse should end. To call Rockferry unoriginal would be an understatement, but Duffy’s retro sound pays tribute to a classic era and gives a fresh voice to contemporary female pop. And in a scene overloaded with dance and electronica acts (one Kylie Minogue is more than enough), that has to be a good thing. We’re curious to know what her next offering will sound like, but in the meantime, listen to Rockferry, enjoy the ’60s white-soul revival and hope that Duffy doesn’t, like Winehouse, start making headlines for the wrong reasons.