On Ultimate Things [Import]

You dont know Kirsty do you? Well if you like modern progressive dance/house/chillout music you probably do, for our Kirsty has graced some of the best songs ever written for the likes of BT, DJ Tiesto et al. I bought this album from Japan ......was it worth it? Yes, it was, for two reasons. Firstly this was Kirsty's first solo album signed up by none other than that musical prat Peter Waterman (now the shock!), not only did KH write all the material, but she wrote it in a completely from the heart anti -pop popint of view (and thus the corresponding no "star status" despite the best efforts of Mr Waterman!) This CD is obviously an artist discovering her talent, it is by no means a masterpiece, but it is haunting to the extreme, and for fans like myself, it showed glimpses of the fantastic voice that now makes her the most sought after session singer in probably the globe! Tracks like "river", "bigger picture" and "one moment" are genuinely beautiful - my God, despite the fact that she is gorgeous to the extreme, she is also extremely talented. Some people were born to write music the way the see it in their own heart, Kirsty is one such person. Buy this CD, then play Tiesto's "Battleship Grey" and you will know what I mean! Kirsty Hawkshaw has the most beautiful voice I hav ever heard......and trust me, I am fussy!

STYLE
A moving collection of impassioned songs with poignant lyrics and bewitching vocals. O<U>T ranges from lazy lounge cool, through drum and bass, gritty beats via ethereal acoustic piano to floating, dreamy a cappella. Instrumentation is not dominant - rather subtle pianos and strings work together with a varied rhythm section to establish a sensitive backdrop. Kirsty's voice is clear and delicate, soaring at times to impossible heights - a wispy allure, vulnerable and finespun. This lady's vocal range is very expansive - happy to explore extremes of tone, intensity, distortion, pitch and emotion. Sometimes high up where the atmosphere is thin, sometimes childlike as if singing to herself and then angry, yelling the chorus word Sci-clone. Tracks ten to fourteen see the percussive material fall away leaving uncluttered, introspective vocal refrains where the term 'achingly beautiful' really does apply. Haunting simplicity thickened by a child's voice pulls at the heart, the album melts away leaving the listener strongly touched.

MOOD
The thread running through this varied album is one of intensity - although the expressions of such go from heated, stormy, bereft to up-close and fragile, lonely and sore. The pace of the music matches this spectrum - strong beats, downtempo, soft washes, a little jazz trumpet, Satie-esque piano. Kirsty's voice and choice of words weave an intimacy throughout - she's openly, reflectively sharing her heart - the weight of this candour peaking in moments of wistful melancholy. A darkness lurks at the edges of a number of pieces, at times encroaching further, drawing shadows or painting a cast that even the most angelic intonation doesn't dispel.

ARTWORK
The artwork for the white label promotional copy that I received is downloadable from Kirsty Hawkshaw's website (www.kirstyhawkshaw.co.uk). This replaces the previous design for the 1998 release. In place of the lush organic original Pheugoo's imagery is cool and sharp, icy blue. A graphically enhanced portrait adorns the front cover whilst tracks are listed along with suitable credits on the reverse.

OVERALL
A varied, honest and stirring collection of songs. This solo album is far removed from the early days of Opus III and exhibits a maturity and confidence that has empowered some delightful exploration of themes and styles. Collaborative contributions come from Global Communication's Mark Prichard and songstress Judie Tzuke - a sample of the latter forming the introduction to a sensitive cover. Kirsty's vocal talent comfortably inhabits the core of O<U>T as the centre of attention, the eye of the storm or the focus of loneliness - how good it is that this fine CD is available once more from the official website. But get in quick - it's a limited edition.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
Lovers of female vocals will be drawn to this release - whether electronic or acoustic fans, there's something here for all. If you enjoy songs that aim for the heart, music with feeling - try the samples on the website, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Found Kirsty's myspace site and was smitten by Smile, so ordered OUT hoping for more. And there are some truly lovely, lovely songs on here. Buy it just for Mercury - full of a sublime longing; this is the sound of the ebb and flow of desire and regret, as touching as anything I've heard for a long time.