Kimbra vows review full#

Kimbra vows review full#

Perhaps the time with the sheep was over-stimulating The Golden Echo is an over-stuffed record full of guest stars. While I’m uncertain as to why a New Zealander would need to travel all the way to America to find sheep, Kimbra viewed it as a time of creative recharging. Vows isn’t a flawless debut, but it’s a diverse record that showcase Kimbra’s vocal chops and suggests intriguing possibilities for her future.Īfter launching her career with Vows and Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’, Kimbra took some time out at a sheep farm in Los Angeles. ‘Cameo Lover’ seems like the more obvious choice for a single, with its “open up your heart” hook. Unusually, I prefer the bonus disc on the deluxe edition, where, instead of genre-hopping, Kimbra solely inhabits the space between R&B and electro-pop, and songs like ‘Come Inside My Head’ and ‘Warrior’ are more punchy and immediate than the songs featured on the main album. My favourite track though, is ‘Call Me’, a horn infused piece of R&B where Kimbra utilises her lower register. The album’s opening track and lead single, ‘Settle Down’, is a daring choice, a multi-tracked, a capella chorus of Kimbras that showcases Kimbra’s vocal and studio skills. She recorded her debut album between 20, drawing on a range of influences – there’s a Nina Simone cover, R&B, pop, and vocal experimentation all touched on. Kimbra Album ReviewsĪfter going through the usual New Zealand steps to success – placing in the Smokefree Rockquest, singing the national anthem at a rugby test match – Kimbra was taken on as project at the age of 17, moving to Australia. But all three of her albums have some great moments, and she’s an accomplished vocalist, able to deliver smooth pop or more characterful, rough vocals. Given Kimbra’s range of interests, it’s perhaps not surprising that she hasn’t made a fully satisfying album yet. But she’s well connected, touring with Janelle Monáe and collaborating with Carly Rae Jepsen. I probably wouldn’t be aware of Kimbra if it wasn’t for her New Zealand origins – she was born in the same city, Hamilton (also colloquially known as Hamiltron, city of the future), as my wife. The adult Kimbra is something of a conundrum, veering between R&B infused pop and more experimental fare.

Kimbra’s big break came just before the release of her debut album when she guested on Gotye’s Peter Gabriel style hit ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’, covered in paint and providing duet vocals. But after a generic debut single ‘Deep For You’, she took time out and became more interesting. Kimbra Johnson was earmarked for stardom early – there are videos online of her singing as a preteen, while she placed second in New Zealand’s national secondary school rock quest at the age of 14.