Found sounds, experimental noises and a husky female voice that sounds like it’s been flavoured by decades of cigarettes and brandy over plucked acoustic and electric guitars. Intimate recordings are the cornerstone of Katie Kim’s debut album, Twelve. It’s a style that’s served her well, and which she has honed to beyond perfection on her fourth and latest LP, Hour of the Ox.
It’s Twelve we’re here to celebrate, though. As a whole, it’s a celebration itself across the ten tracks. It’s like Katie has found a cauldron in which to pour all the best elements of other amazing women in the music business, such as PJ Harvey, Soccer Mommy and Hope Sandoval, stirred it up with a sprinkling of her Gaelic roots and making it very much her own through her use of loops and unstructured structure. It makes her music into something both ethereal and yet as solid as a claw hammer thrown over and over against an anvil.
Taking that description you’d think this album was difficult, but it’s anything but. Yes, it has moments that are distinctly non-indie-folk (if that’s even the best way to describe this album); however, overall it’s bright and warm, but perhaps in the same way the house in Handsel and Gretel is warm and bright. There’s an uncurrent of something almost indescribable that adds excitement and a sense that you’re not in control of how it pulls you in.
The album was the result of over 50 other songs being wiped from her hard drive. Perhaps that’s why it has that bubbling frustration threaded through it? Maybe that’s why this sounds like a performer at the height of her game so early on in her career? It really doesn’t matter, because whatever it is it doesn’t diminish the extraordinary nature of this album, the depths and layers that you’ll pick out on the third, fifth or fifteenth listen.
And you will listen to it that many times, because you’ll wonder how it escaped your attention for so long – and you’ll want to share the experience of hearing the adept playing and composition throughout this album – such as that slide guitar far back in the mix – with others. You can hear Twelve on Katie’s Bandcamp page. Or stream it here. And then enjoy the rest of her stunning discography.