There’s something special about the music Kimbra makes and the kind of intriguing magic that happens when she gets behind the mic. Her distinctive sound is difficult to classify, a sort of oddly wonderful mixture of pop and jazz is probably the only way to go about it… She’s 21, from NZ and currently calls Melbourne home. So far, her collabs include the likes of Miami Horror and Gotye, which when you think about it, isn’t bad for an artist who until now had only dropped a handful of singles.
Vows’ first few tracks showcase a sort of hazy, soulful pop; the next few possess a more smooth, jazzy sound; then, the two blend into a sort of wondrous mega-genre; creating tunes well worthy of widespread acclaim. The album itself is an exploration of commitment and promises, (hence the title Vows,) through an array of dance-inducing beats, (have a listen to Limbo) and emotional jazzy-ballads, (check out Withdraw) manages to imprint great expectations of this gifted musician.
Here’s a couple of highlights I can’t stop groovin’ too.
Settle Down
I don’t know about you, but when a song manages to captivate my attention using nothing but vocals for the first 45 seconds, I start to expect things. Good things. This song is crazy catchy and gives you a taste of the unique, Kimbra-esque vocal layering to come in almost all of the tracks that follow.
Old Flame
Its the first track on the album to take a step back, slowing things down, creating a sort of peaceful reverie. Kimbra’s soulful voice showcased at its best, this tune is guaranteed to give the repeat button a work out.
Call Me
This tune reminds me of warm afternoons chilling in the sunshine with the peeps you love. The brass accompaniment gives it a big-band sort of feel, yet at the same time isn’t lame… Just fascinatingly awesome, Kimbra-style.
Her strong voice carries more than just a tune; it holds a funky, soulful power that manages to overflow into each song with feeling and emotion. She experiments with sounds, layers and beats, to create a strangely fantastic style that keeps you listening, tune after tune.
Check out the album as a whole, the flawless flow from one song to the next is one to be admired. Listen to it, love it and tell your pals- Kimbra’s heading places and believe me; you want to be the dude saying, “I told you so”.
