| 
Review: Rob Lord
STRANGE concept this. Acoustically cover a load of disparate
songs having only listened to them a couple of times to get the
basics.
The songs covered range from those by The Smiths, Radiohead,
Blink 182 and Green Day to Aim and Kate, herself from Grand Central.
I can’t say I’m a fan of many of the original tracks
covered. I am, though, a fan of Kate’s beautiful voice.
It gloriously towers above the tracks she sings on, always adding
and never detracting from the music.
I guess, though, when a track is stripped back in this way to
the acoustics then it doesn’t really matter what it sounded
like in the first place.
On Seconds, Kate’s vocal performance is top notch
as normal. She delivers the lines as if she wrote them herself,
putting all her effort into making the tracks interesting and
appealing.
Although whether she can pull this off single-handed is in dispute.
It took me a long time to get into this album.
I think I was trying to forget the originals and enjoy the covers
for what they are. Now, though, I am a fan and it’s opened
up these songs to the missus, who now only knows them in their
acoustic version.
The Smiths' Big Mouth Strikes Again opens Seconds.
It’s a slower, more emotional version. A mouth organ provides
the tune and Kate uses her voice to provide the anger and bitterness
the words deserve.
Climbing Up The Walls has haunting production and as
Kate sings the chorus, her voice comes from different places at
different pitches to give real depth.
Here Comes Your Man is excellent. Halfway through, the
double bass kicks in and provides a great rumbling undercurrent
to Kates’ upbeat vocals.
The best by far is Miss You, there’s so much here
- harmony on the chorus and a sense of aggression in Kate’s
voice that’s drives the song forward.
The vocals are fast and snappy against the smooth chorus creating
a great counter balance.
When the chorus does come in, it’s at a much higher pitch
than the other vocals and lights up the track. It may have been
a rubbish Blink 182 song but it’s Seconds’
standout track.
Seconds is a fairly short album but it’s one that
can go round and round on the CD player without ever getting boring.
There may be sad stories in many of these songs but they never
become depressing, dull or boring.
Recommended, just give it the time it deserves.
|
