Kira: Run Where No One Goes

Copenhagen native Kira Skov shows off impressive vocal chops on this seven-song EP of guitar-driven rock. The songs cover diverse emotional territory, from the smoldering “Hard Rain” to the bluesy “Make a Man” to the intense “Save Me,” reportedly recorded in a Danish kitchen at a particularly tumultuous moment in the singer’s life. Acoustic picking forms the backbone of “King’s Kitchen,” but most songs are backed by electric guitars, drums, and organ. While the band does fine work, Kira’s voice is very much the star of the show: by turns vulnerable and defiant, wavering and husky, it displays a wide array of moods as well as impressive dynamic range. Already well-known in Denmark, where her album “This Is Not an Exit” has gone gold, Kira now aims to make a run at stardom here in the States. With the material she’s got, she stands a pretty good chance, but she’ll need more than an EP to catch serious attention.