Kate Walsh: Tim’s House

Kate Walsh
Tim's House
Verve Forecast
2008-01-29

Gorgeous might be the only word to describe this, the second album, from UK songstress Kate Walsh. Her voice, her songs, Tim Bidwell’s excellent production (whose house and site of recording the album was presumably named for). All aspects work in tandem to project a delicate grace and radiance. Walsh’s web bio states the 24-year-old songwriter “…doesn’t have an iPod or walkman. She does own a television but she hasn’t plugged it in since last July.” The simplicity that Walsh seems to embrace in real life comes through in the simple beauty that fills the album. Weaving together various shades contained in folk, pop and jazz, Walsh’s hypnotic vocals, sometimes breezy approach and softly textured sounds evoke a hybrid between the styles of such established artists as Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell. Especially beautiful offerings on an album comprised of ten beautiful offerings include “Talk of the Town” (a sweetly melodic take on heartbreak, sorrow and shame) and equally stunning cuts “Bury My Head” and “French Song”. Want to know who may be lining up to be the next great female voice of our time? Listen to Tim’s House: question answered.

RATING 7 / 10