We’re just experiencing our first taste of the debut long player from New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based singer Kimbra. It’s completely sublime.
What gives us most hope for the ‘Vows’ project is that album buyers are seemingly embracing the more soulful side of the pop spectrum right now – a prime example being the overwhelming support of Adele’s music here in Australia.
What also gives Kimbra hope is the fact that the track on which she’s currently featuring – Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ – has this week become a No.1 hit, meaning that the name ‘Kimbra’ should be everywhere by the time the album drops. Staggeringly, ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ is the first Australian track since Guy Sebastian in January this year to hit the No.1 position. A travesty, yes.
But back to ‘Vows’… ‘Two Way Street’ is perfect for radio, blending pop sensibilities with Kimbra’s smokey vocals. Said vocals are in full, majestic, beautiful, raw, honey-dripping, stripped-back flight on ‘Plain Gold Ring’, while ‘Limbo’ allows Kimbra to get a bit creative on a track that’s reminiscent of Janelle Monae’s ‘Tightrope’.
For those seeking a little more from the singer, there’s even a hidden track called ‘Somebody Please’.
18 sleeps and counting, kids.
01. Settle Down
02. Cameo Lover
03. Two Way Street
04. Old Flame
05. Good Intent
06. Plain Gold Ring
07. Call Me
08. Limbo
09. Wandering Limbs
10. Withdraw
11. The Build Up
12. Somebody Please (hidden track)
Australia's first stop for pop!