Kittyhawk, Album Review
Last year, Bristol based band, Santa Dog were cutting & sticking together their handmade EP's to send off to delighted bloggers and fanzine writers across the country. These aforementioned EP's managed to travel further than expected, copies were found as far as North America and Asia. But more importantly they were found in Quince Records and SoundsXPerience offices.The days of Santa Dog hand producing their records are now up. Quince Records have taken on the task of releasing their debut album, Kittyhawk and we have an exclusive look at it.
Their debut single, Big Bang (out May 14th) opens the album with gusto. The sound that hits you is coming through the ages. Front woman, Rowena Dugdales's voice is yearning for a duet with Jenny Lewis whilst the music is contemporary but feels like it has a long lost cousin in the sixties.
The album progresses from a roaring start with the guitar bleating Are You Hot Enough and the third EP's title track, Belle de Jour. There are a few songs from their previous EP's scattered around Kittyhawk. And why not ? There are some delightful pop songs here, that are still on their first airing to the majority.
Yeah Yeah Yeah has a lyrically challenged chorus but you can stuff that to the back of your mind whilst the glimmering, summery pop tune shines through. Stand out track West Coast Boy Racer glows with a buzz saw of a guitar solo, sharp enough to be of use in a timber yard. And the tingling Pop Coloured is complete with Dugdale's scintillating chorus yelps.
The album enters the final stretch with Lucky Me, a roller coasting ode that has more mood swings than a disorientated teenager. We end on the downbeat Martyr on the Ropes. The chorus yelps have long gone, but the "Hey Hey Hey's" have stepped forth. If you can relinquish the chorus from taking all of your attention, there are some thought provoking lyrics mixed in there with: "If this love is poisonous you better drug me, If this is an illusion you better trick me".
Well that’s it, 11 tracks of pop music that fills a void for any emotion out there. You can skate through the summer happiness or glide towards the winter blues. But it's all in here somewhere and it's waiting for you to play it.
Kittyhawk is released on 4th June through Quince Records.
