Blueberry pie (label)
13 September 2010 (released)
23 September 2010
Kate Walsh is one of those artists on the bring of greatness, but never quite seems to find the limelight. Her last true album ‘Tim’s House’ was critically acclaimed but failed to ignite the charts. She is also the only unsigned artists ever to get a number 1 slot on the iTunes chart.
Her latest release is a very personal one, partially spurned by her lack of issues, incidents and emotions in her life to write songs about. Kate has picked some of her favourite 80’s and 90’s tunes and added her very unique mark to the tracks. Artists range from Erasure, EMF and The Shamen through to Radiohead and Turin Brakes.
For each of the tracks, Kate has stripped down the arrangement, and in some cases, completely overhauled the track. EMF’s pop anthem ‘Unbelievable’ sounds amazing as a slow, piano driven track, likewise ‘A Little Respect’ really comes into it’s own as a gently sung number. One of my all time favourite tracks ‘When Love Breaks Down’ was already a gentle emotional ballad, but Kate vocals do give it a very different feel from Paddy McAloon’s original vocals. The Shamen’s rave anthem ‘Move Any Mountain’ is a real surprise as well as it is slowed and laid bare. Duran Duran’s ‘Save a Prayer’ does retain the pace of the original allow it is again a sparse arrangement.
This really is a fine chillout album, similar in some ways the the Unchilled album that was released last year, where dance classics were made acoustic. With the right songs this works perfectly, and Kate Walsh real has the skill and talent to make these tracks unique to her.
By the way Peppermint Radio was the name Kate gave to her imaginary radio station she ‘ran’ from her bedroom when she was around 10 years old.
A beautifully composed and delivered album – check it out.
1. Subterranean Homesick Alien (Originally a hit for Radiohead)
2. When Love Breaks Down (Originally a hit for Prefab Sprout)
3. Unbelievable (Originally a hit for EMF)
4. Lullaby (Originally a hit for The Cure)
5. Beetlebum (Originally a hit for Blur)
6. A Little Respect (Originally a hit for Erasure)
7. Move Any Mountain (Originally a hit for The Shamen)
8. Who’s That Girl (Originally a hit for The Eurythmics)
9. Save A Prayer (Originally a hit for Duran Duran)
10. Feeling Oblivion (Originally a hit for Turin Brakes)
11. Monochrome (Originally a hit for The Sundays)
