Review by Helen Brown
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It is refreshing when rather than trying to sell a pop song to the masses, a band plays the music they love. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis have done so with their sophomore release Smoking In Heaven. This family affair, consisting of three siblings from London, has produced some infectiously catchy songs in the past and this album is no exception. There are numerous contrasting elements, such that it cannot easily be pigeonholed and to say that they exist in a sub-genre is an understatement. KD&L (Kitty, Daisy & Lewis) have made music inspired by classic genres of yesteryear, tied together with its own unique modern twist. |
Songs like ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Will I ever’ combine snare drums, string riffs and brass sections. The soothing feminine vocals sing of loneliness, lost love and regret, all the while lifting the mood with Hawaiian guitar twangs and slinky triangle percussion. With a Latino jazz or cafe lounge feel, ‘Tomorrow’ is one of the most eclectic sounds you are likely to hear.
There is a lull at moments particularly during the instrumental tracks. They start to feel repetitive and drag a little longer than necessary. If KD&L had tightened them, or used slightly more variation in the riffs this would have helped the flow of the album. On the second listen though, they do not seem as redundant and just need time to sink in. The pleasant and quirky instrumental ‘Paan Man Boogie’ opens with a Jerry Lee Lewis style of jazzy piano. Simple textured bass strings are thrown into the middle to slow the pace some. Each musical element is prominent yet do not outdo each other, rather fitting together and balancing nicely.
‘Baby Don’t You Know’ begins as a sultry track, then there is a sudden dramatic change in tempo with banjos and a rapid beat. One minute you are swaying along and drowning in her voice, the next your foot is tapping to the combination of country jamboree guitars and jazzy brass and bass. In comparison to the jazz-infused female sounds, the male vocal has an outback vibe and seamlessly fuses country, blues and Hawaiian styles in ‘I’m coming home,’ managing to be both charming and down to earth at the same time. Another strong point on this album is the clearly defined guitar riffs. While not particularly heavy and rumbling, they are very strong and grabby. One weakness is the lyrics, at times being both pedestrian and repetitive: “He’s my baby, and he loves me all the time” and “Why you messin’ with my life / why you messin’ with my life / why you messin’ with my life” are two respective examples.
Music has a circle of life: what we thought was dead and buried comes back in force, as though it never left. Smoking In Heaven will get under your skin, to the point where you are tapping along to a non-existent beat, well after it is over. If you try to analyse each track individually, there is a chance you become bored. Listen in the background and enjoy it for what it is: a collection of harmless, uncomplicated feel-good tunes.
(My rating: 3 out of 5)
Review by Helen Brown
– Smoking In Heaven – Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
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Photos by Stuart Blythe