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Krystle Warren has an undeniably stunning voice. Androgynous and musically anamorphic, her debut album ‘Circles’ showcases a voice with deft ability and range, mastering jazz, blues, folk and soul with classic yet individualistic cadences.
Unfortunately some songs simper too close towards unfeeling and somewhat over-produced radio-friendly tendencies which tend to mar Warren’s obvious talents, and also inhibit some of the more interesting and slightly more experimental approaches to be found in her songs.
It’s a shame because when songs do step out of a radio-friendly comfort zone, they come alive and are sonorous with a passion and personality that are sadly oblique in a great deal of some of the other songs on the album, as though Warren hasn’t been given quite enough time (or freedom) to develop the sound she actually wanted.
‘Sunday Comfort’ – a perfect example of this, begins predictably and impassively but takes a dark turn mid-song and transforms into a deeply textured vocal chorus of minor harmonies. The same is also true of the meandering beginnings of ‘Current Events’ which twist into a wonderfully strange bluegrass-soul breakdown which are in turns exuberant and mesmeric, as well as the reverse-guitar that hauntingly finishes ‘The Means To Be’ (sounding oddly reminiscent of something from a Fiona Apple album).
There’s semblances to Jeff Buckley here (namely, ‘Some Trivial Pursuit’, which sounds like it could be twinned with Buckley’s ‘Lover You Should’ve Come Over’), Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Joan Armatrading (particularly on album opener ‘Year End Issue’).
Unfortunately, the album feels frustrated and blunted, always teasing rather than delivering which is a great bloody shame considering the clear vocal talents and vision Warren has to offer. However, as a debut album it delivers in showcasing what is a potentially awesome talent, and for those of you looking for something a little soothing and unchallenging – as an accompaniment to some after work wine guzzling or a post-break-up attack of catatonia – this is greatly recommended. Just don’t expect to be humming much, of any of it afterwards.
Buy Circles – out now: http://tinyurl.com/yc97a6n
Krystle Warren releases her first single Year End Issue on the 30th November.
Live dates – November:
Sun 13 London – Barbican Hall
Supporting Naturally 7:
Sun 15 London Theatre Royal Stratford East – Theatre Square
Tue 17 Salisbury City Hall – City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury
Wed 18 Coventry Warwick Arts Centre
Sun 22 Croydon Fairfield Hall