Project Description

KATIE MELUA
“Album No. 8”
Album Review

(15th October)

Reviewer – James Bryan

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“An absolutely captivating journey through the thoughts and emotions of Katie’s mind, “Album No. 8” is sure to please, combining velvety vocals with a natural and timeless acoustic sound.” – James Bryan

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‘A Love Like That’

Kicking off the album in stylish fashion, “A Love Like That” sets the tone for what’s to come, introducing you to Katie’s unique style of folk music. The first thing that really stands out on “Album No. 8” right from the first few seconds is the seamless integration of orchestral instrumentation, giving the sound an element of tension that always resolves in impressively graceful fashion. The introduction to the song exemplifies this well – dark and almost ominous sounding strings build in volume, only to explode into a beautiful harmony that pairs impeccably with the delicate guitar work. The next aspect of the sound that will immediately grab you are Katie’s vocals, which are smooth, articulate and a perfect fit for the intricate folk sound on display here. On “A Love Like That” Katie explores the difficulty of maintaining the excitement of new love through the decades. Excellent lines such as “It falls like rain / It turns to dust / How’d you make a love like that last?” offer a great insight into the realities of being in love, avoiding the all too common musical cliche of glorifying love and relationships.

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‘English Manner’

“English Manner” really gives you a taste of Katie’s musical prowess, taking you on a journey through a variety of musical segments that each have their own unique identity. The song begins with a calming folk guitar riff and Katie’s silky smooth vocals, with strings fading in and out in the background. Just when you start to get acclimated to the sound, Katie switches it up with an excellent piano breakdown accompanied by dreamy vocals that wrap themselves around you. Enough can’t be said about Katie’s vocal abilities here, with her high pitched yet soothing voice and the beautiful piano work combining to make you feel almost as if you are floating in a clear and tranquil body of water. The song then builds up to a great orchestral crescendo that trails off perfectly into a slow and calming finish.

‘Leaving The Mountain’

“Leaving The Mountain” slows down the pace and explores beautiful imagery of mountains covered in snow, forests and homes with smoke coming out of the chimneys. The piano work is particularly effective here, combining with the orchestral elements to create a surprisingly cinematic and cohesive sounding piece that wouldn’t be out of place in a romantic film. The atmosphere created on “Leaving The Mountain” is absolutely captivating; you really do feel like you’re away in a snow covered log cabin in the countryside, with a cup of tea brewing beside you as you turn the pages of a gripping novel. Another great track, “Leaving The Mountain” shows Katie at the peak of her abilities, managing to paint scenery of an alluring wintery world with just a few instruments and her voice.

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‘Joy’

“Joy” lives up to its name, providing an uplifting message that kindness, laughter and joy are what give us the motivation to carry on through tough times. The softly strummed acoustic guitar work is very uplifting here, and matches perfectly with the tone and message of the song. If there’s one thing that can be said about Katie’s instrumental choices, it’s that they always do an excellent job supporting the lyricism and mood of the song; the delicate drumming and warm and mellow piano chords on “Joy” pair beautifully with Katie’s vocal melodies to create a wholesome experience that’s absolutely addictive. On the topic, almost every song on “Album No. 8” is not just a piece of music but an encapsulating journey into Katie’s soul, offering a glimpse into her innermost thoughts and personality; and it’s this level of intimacy and honesty in the sound that really makes “Album No. 8” stand out.

‘Voices In The Night’

“Voices In The Night” is sure to please fans of both jazz and folk music alike, pairing excellent instrumental flourishes with a silky smooth yet incredibly catchy beat. It becomes apparent at this point that Katie refuses to write anything by the book, combining elements from whichever genres she chooses to great effect. “Voices In The Night” mixes elements of jazz, funk, folk and classical all within the one song – and yet it all works so seamlessly as her exceptional vocals tie the sound together like glue. The production is also worth mentioning here; every instrument has a nice spot in the mix and everything cuts through clearly whilst still sounding incredibly human and natural. It really does feel as if you are right there in the studio with Katie and the band members, especially when listening on a pair of good headphones. An album highlight, “Voices In The Night” proves Katie is not just a one trick pony and can cover any style she wants with ease.

‘Maybe I Dreamt It’

“Maybe I Dreamt It” switches to a slow and calm pace once again and shifts the focus back to an atmospheric and fittingly dreamy sound, conjuring up vivid imagery of starry nights and far away galaxies. The lack of any percussion here is a bold choice but one that absolutely pays off, directing all of your attention to Katie’s soothing vocals and the beautiful string and guitar melodies. In addition, the way that the orchestral elements fade in and out gives an excellent ebb and flow to the sound, pairing nicely with the dreamy lyricism and instrumentation. Whilst perhaps less instrumentally busy and complex than some of the other tracks on “Album No. 8”, “Maybe I Dreamt It” is still a standout due to its great lyricism and relaxing soundscape.

‘Heading Home’

“Heading Home” manages to perfectly capture the nostalgia and happiness of returning to the comfort of home after a long journey away. Katie knows how to build up the energy in a song effectively, and “Heading Home” is a great example. The song begins with soft piano chords that instill a sense of longing and sadness but with a hint of hopefulness. Much like the thoughts that travel through your head as you return home from a holiday, there is a sense of sadness as you realise your relaxing journey has come to an end, but then an overwhelming sense of joy as you remember what you’ve been missing that you’re returning to. Before you realise it suddenly the song has reached a beautiful climax, with strings, acoustic guitar and bass all coalescing in such an elegant manner that it almost sounds like it could be the soundtrack to your own life. A very subtle and well thought out track, “Heading Home” continues to please even after multiple listens.

‘Your Longing Is Gone’

Just when it seems like Katie has shown off all she has to offer vocally, “Your Longing Is Gone” subverts expectations with an energetic and passionate performance. Hitting multiple high notes whilst still maintaining a clean and pure vocal tone is no easy feat, yet Katie manages to pull it off exceptionally here, making it sound effortless in the process. The lyrics are also exceptional, revealing the reality of love and how it can fade over time as Katie sings “Your longing is gone /  now don’t go trying to force it / your longing is gone / I’m gonna leave with the morning dew”. The string section is used to excellent effect on this track, filling in the gaps when Katie’s vocals aren’t present in a satisfying call and response style. Whilst slightly more repetitive and less progressive than some of the other tracks on “Album No.8”, “Your Longing Is Gone” more than makes up for it with one of Katie’s best vocal performances to date and thoughtful lyricism.

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‘Airtime’

All too often in music artists sing about love as if it is the ultimate end goal – if you haven’t found the perfect partner then they MUST be out there somewhere, right? Katie bucks this trend with “Airtime”, sending the important message that love is something that should be found and not sought out, enjoyed in its natural form but not artificially created. This idea really hits home as she sings “Ooh, turn it down / Too much love is all around”. In an age where dating apps and the ability to instantly connect with others online is always at our fingertips, are we really experiencing true love, developed naturally? Also touching on the oversaturation of love in the music industry, Katie makes some excellent and thoughtful critiques with “Airtime” that are all the more convincing as she pairs her ideas with a slow folk sound peppered with calming guitar work and delicate piano melodies.

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‘Remind Me To Forget’

Closing out the album in moving fashion, “Remind Me To Forget” paints vivid imagery of birds and silver birches, touching on how losing oneself in nature is the best therapy for heartache. In an era where we are all spending less and less time outside, songs that preach the importance of nature like “Remind Me To Forget” come as a literal breath of fresh air. Katie’s angelic vocals drive home a great message as the experience of “Album No. 8” comes to an end – spend time on yourself and remember to forget your troubles and burdens from time to time, as it’s in your best interest to do so.

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Katie Melua

Katie Melua is one of Britain’s most successful musical artists, having received over 56 platinum awards. The 35-year old is originally from Tbilisi, Georgia and moved to the UK aged 8. Her voice carries extraordinary qualities of clarity, emotional depth, and richness of tone that have been her trademarks since she released her debut album Call Off The Search when she was only 19 years old. Melua has released 7 top 10 studio albums – Call Off The Search, Piece By Piece, Pictures, The House, Secret Symphony, Ketevan and, most recently, 2016’s self- produced, critically acclaimed In Winter (she and Kate Bush remain the only two British female artists in history to achieve this). An accomplished songwriter, composer, and arranger some of Melua’s most well-known hits include ‘Nine Million Bicycles’, ‘The Closest Thing to Crazy’, ‘Perfect World’, and her now infamous cover of ‘Wonderful Life’. A constantly in- demand touring artist, Melua enchants her audiences worldwide with her uniquely powerful and captivating voice, flawless performances, and charming personality. Melua’s 8th studio album will be released in the autumn of 2020.

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ALBUM NO. 8 
released FRIDAY OCTOBER  16, 2020 
Pre-order  Here

ALBUM NO. 8
Tracklisting:

A Love Like That
English Manner
Leaving The Mountain
Joy
Voices In the Night
Maybe I Dreamt It
Heading Home
Your Longing Is Gone
Airtime
Remind Me To Forget

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Follow KATIE MELUA
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB