Kathryn Williams // Crown Electric

Kathryn Williams looks like a very nice lady who probably enjoys a cup of tea and a craft fair. This is her 10th studio album, and it's named after the company that first employed Elvis Presley. Not sure really what that has to do with this album, but hey, trivia, right? She's worked with some well famous people like Sandie Shaw and John Martyn so she's obviously a name to know in the word of gentle folk. It's a very restful "ladies" album, the sort of thing to listen to while you bake, or play quietly when your lady friends come over to talk about their problems and whatnot. It's full of emotions and tracks called things like 'Arwen' and 'Tequila'...you know, stuff 'ladies' like. She sings of being brave enough to be yourself, and of trusting a new partner, all laid over her acoustic guitar, beautiful string parts and occasional brass. It reminds me very strongly of Rumer, and also of a kind of English Charlotte Gainsbourg; in fact, she is VERY Gainsbourg... but somehow it loses something somewhere. The words she chooses to use are very simple, very everyday, there's not much lyrical beauty; "working so hard, I'm all burnt out", - it's a bit dull. I feel that she needs to feel free to really go mental and let it all out. It's rather British and repressive - still, perfect for Mother's Day innit. 7/10 LizzKathryn Williams looks like a very nice lady who probably enjoys a cup of tea and a craft fair. This is her 10th studio album, and it's named after the company that first employed Elvis Presley. Not sure really what that has to do with this album, but hey, trivia, right? She's worked with some well famous people like Sandie Shaw and John Martyn so she's obviously a name to know in the word of gentle folk. It's a very restful "ladies" album, the sort of thing to listen to while you bake, or play quietly when your lady friends come over to talk about their problems and whatnot. It's full of emotions and tracks called things like 'Arwen' and 'Tequila'...you know, stuff 'ladies' like. She sings of being brave enough to be yourself, and of trusting a new partner, all laid over her acoustic guitar, beautiful string parts and occasional brass. It reminds me very strongly of Rumer, and also of a kind of English Charlotte Gainsbourg; in fact, she is VERY Gainsbourg... but somehow it loses something somewhere. The words she chooses to use are very simple, very everyday, there's not much lyrical beauty; "working so hard, I'm all burnt out", - it's a bit dull. I feel that she needs to feel free to really go mental and let it all out. It's rather British and repressive - still, perfect for Mother's Day innit. 7/10 Lizz