ALBUM REVIEWS
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ALBUM REVIEWS |
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Krystle Warren & The Faculty
CIRCLES BECAUSE MUSIC 26.10.09 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
Having recently made her British TV debut on Jools Holland’s annoyingly patchy TV music showcase; American singer-songwriter Krystle Warren and her band The Faculty now release their new album in the UK. Being predominantly an indie-rock nerd of some 25 years standing means that this kind of smooth soul usually has the distinct potential to leave me cold. Warren has a fairly laid back, languid vocal style and the backing music is pure smouldering soul. Although some rather peculiar lyrics do stick out like a sore thumb from the otherwise smooth as silk compositions - opening track ‘Year End Issue’ includes the bizarre couplet ‘This is all I need to wear/Trousers, socks and underwear.’ On trying to pick out some highlights I found that ‘To The Middle’ has a breezy, jazzy feel and sounds a bit like Leeds’ own Corinne Bailey Rae. While ‘Title Track’ (bit too clever, clever that one) flawlessly succeeds in showcasing Warren’s sumptuous syrupy vocal within one of the numerous emotional torch songs on the album. ‘A View From the Top’ is a more expansive piece – with murmured male backing vocals adding a certain gravitas to the mood. Perhaps this album would be an ideal soundtrack to a hazy Indian-summer barbeque, so it’s a pity really that it’s below zero outside and dark by 4.00pm. Despite repeated listens in general I was struggling to elucidate what I wanted to say about most of the tracks on this album. After fretting about this for some time I came to the conclusion that this was because I wasn’t really hooked by the overall feel of the album. I can enjoy stuff like this if it’s got a bit of an edge, or an imaginative way of engaging with the listener. If this aspect is missing just good quality song-writing (which this album certainly has aplenty) doesn’t tend to be sufficiently enough to reel me in. This one wasn’t distinctive enough for me to break free of those ingrained indie-kid shackles. www.myspace.com/krystlewarren |
