KT Tunstall // Feel It All

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It’s been a while since we heard anything from Miss Tunstall (coming up on 3 years) but with a new album, Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon out in a couple of months, of course you need a lead single and that comes in the form of Feel It All.

Tunstall admits herself that this is a deeply personal track that arose from the ashes of things that happened in her own life during the recording of her new album. But it’s sadly not a track that probably many will take to straight away, probably due to the fact that the listening public are probably more used to hearing something a bit more upbeat from her rather than this little mellow offering.

It’s sort of hard to judge this given what we used to. Is it a true reflection of what is to come with the rest of the album? Maybe it’s too soon to say, but at the moment we have to say that we don’t feel it at all.

Rating: 3/5

KT Tunstall // The Scarlet Tulip EP

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The Scarlet Tulip EP is the latest self released EP from Scottish singer songwriter KT Tunstall. Simply KT and a guitar, all 7 tracks on the EP were recorded live in a solar powered studio in England

With it just being KT and a guitar, you can’t help but be reminded of the Throw Me A Rope EP and Eye To The Telescope. It showcases that, despite recording with full band, she’s still got it when it coms to performing alone and that it's not all pop & rock. These 7 little tracks eminate a calm and reflective side that's maybe been missing for a while and has needed to shine.

Being available on three formats (digital, CD and limited edition 10" vinyl), there's something for everyone. Highly recommeded buy for all Tunstall fans, especially those more familiar with the folier side of her

Rating: 5/5

KT Tunstall Live @ Barrowland Ballroom (23rd October 2010)

It's been a while since KT's last proper tour (she did do a small solo tour earlier this year performing tracks from the latest album, Tiger Suit) but tonight she arrives in at the infamous Barrowland Ballroom as part of her current UK tour.

First on stage in a duo from Sheffield called Snow Club. They’re a mixture of guitar, drums and vocals. They may have been more interesting if they could be understood (the loudness of the instruments drowned the vocals in some songs) and had made an attempt to show some enthusiasm up on the stage.

However, the general feeling was that they were just there (they openly admitted that they didn’t have a set list and even asked the crowd what time it was so they could, on the wing, decide how many songs they could perform). In honesty, had there been a decision of whether to give the support a miss, then this would have been one of those moments. Once they left the stage, it was a all hands on deck to get the stage ready for the main show. The lights dim and the show is ready to begin.

The band appear first followed by KT who apologises for being late but she’s been away ‘writing some new shit’ and she hopes we like it. From that, we’re straight into the first track of the night, Glamour Puss. This leads straight into Unmmannaq Song. She takes a break to speak to the crowd and introduce Come On, Get In, a song about get on with it after getting dumped. Funnyman, from the last album Drastic Fantastic is next.  Next she asks if there are any freaks in the venue, with many putting their hands up. She then adds what’s more worrying is those that didn’t answer. This leads into the first single from the new album, (Still A) Weirdo. At the end of this, she apologises for the beatboxing in the album version. People told it was a good idea and it wasn’t.

Another favourite Hold On follows but not before she introduces us to her band. After this, the band leaves KT on her own and she performs a new version of Other Side Of The World, which was brilliant. She then into the her debut song Black Horse & The Cherry Tree, which she sets up or, try to set up through the loop pedal. Unfortunately, the crowd are really into in and going a little too quickly. She tries speeding it up but admits it sounds a bit like a rap, so takes it down again. During the musical section, the band returns to help her finish the song off. Songs Lost and Golden Frames are next followed straight after by Difficulty. She brings the pace down a little with the last track on Tiger Suit, The Entertainer.

The slow pace doesn’t last as she throws herself into Saving My Face, with the crowd joining in and generally have a great time. Madame Trudeaux comes next after a short explanation behind the song. Push That Knot Away, the first full studio version that fans were introduced to and forthcoming single Fade Like A Shadow (first single in the US) finishes off this little segment. The band and KT disappear from the stage and the crowd start chanting, clapping…generally making a grand noise until KT and a member of her band return to the stage.

As they’re starting the next song, KT announces that this song is back by popular demand and she does read what we write sometimes. The track turns out to be Heal Over. As the song progresses, the rest of the band returns and she tells us that a question gets asked frequently is what sort of music inspires her and her answer is the 80’s. She wants to sing The Voice, but doesn’t have a bagpipe player, so she opts for the Erasure track A Little Respect. The night ends on a high with the fantastic Suddenly I See. Once the stage is empty, the crowd once again try chanting but the house lights come up and everyone realises that it the end of the night.

Overall, it was a great night. The Barrowlands is a great little venue and has seen some great acts over the years. The support act didn’t live up to the main act and felt as if they just been picked 5 minutes before they went on stage. Of the main event, KT was fantastic and, compared to the last big gig (held in the SECC) this seemed much more impressive. The tracks sound perfect live, if not, slightly different but that’s what seeing an artist live is all about: experiencing the music how it should be: live.

Photos © Vhari Lannigan

Tiger Suit:
Standard
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Deluxe
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KT Tunstall // (Still A) Weirdo

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After a break away, KT Tunstall returns with her first single offering from her new album, Tiger Suit.

(Still A) Weirdo is described by KT herself as the 'runty puppy that everybody loves'. The song is a beautifully relaxing, guitar driven track that you can imagine driving along in the sunshine.

Looking at it's on credit, it is a great little song and is reminiscent of tracks from the debut, Eye To The Telescope. But when looked at the context of the new album, it seems a little out of place.

Nice to see KT back. Maybe not the best single that's been released but it's different from what's out there at the moment and hopefully that will help her stand out from the rest once more

Rating: 4/5

KT Tunstall // Tiger Suit

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It's been a few years since we had a release from Kt but now she's back with the brand new release, Tiger Suit. She's already been performing some of the new material in solo shows around the country, so the album will be the first time that fully produced versions will be heard.

The opening track, Uummannaq Song sets the new sound from this album; a sound defined as 'nature techno'. It's a great little opener followed quickly by Glamour Puss that has a slightly rockier edge. Next is the first official track that was posted on Youtube, Push That Knot Away and follows the same rocky edge of the previous track.

Difficulty is a difficult track to place. It's base is sounds very old techno and somehow you expect it to get faster, a bit more dancier, but it never seems to come. Still a nice track.

Fade Like A Shadow (first single in the US) is up next and a great little track returning to the sound of experienced in previous tracks already on the album. Lost starts off as a beautiful slow and relaxing track that builds the instruments used as it progresses. It maintains the overall sound of the album but yet seems to be a little tea break as a whole. Golden Frames is another little tea break track. You wouldn't be blamed for wanting to snap your fingers along with this.

All of a sudden, we're taken to a song that might be classed as a little rock 'n' roll. Yes it's Come On, Get In and may well have done well as an opening track as well. The track KT herself calls the 'Runty puppy' is (Still A) Weirdo and it's probably not something that you would automatically assume to be a KT track but it's still a lovely little relaxing track. The best way to describe Madame Trudeaux is...thing Suzie Quattro. That's all that can be said. The final track (The Entertainer) is a lovely little ender and rounds the album off perfectly.

On the whole, Tiger Suit is a great come back and shows a little experimentation and possibly the creation of an all new sound. It seems to be a natural progression for KT and on a whole, there's not a bad track on the album. Maybe the order could do with a slight tweaking, but apart from that, it's a lovely addition for any fan's collection.

Rating: 4.5/5