. Rose Kemp : "A Hand Full Of Hurricanes" ( One Little Indian Records).
Although Rose Kemp hopes -with a half tongue in cheek- that this debut album will "play her out of the fanzines and onto the front covers", it might be mere -though understandable- wishful thinking. Maybe if you just listen to her album (which probably means you read fanzines or go to some amazing diy clubs), you will hear a quite open-hearted -and very pleasantly so- young singer. With a straight forward delivery of guitar and vocal, you can recognize her obvious DIY, folk and rock background. She likes to use unexpected effects on her guitar, and she makes a non less expected use of her sampler. Glasses of water and the strength of her nicely arranged- yet rawly sore- voice, also add to the intricate layers of harmonies.
She starts with "Little One". It has a nice floating cello/violin to it, and sets the mood. On "Orange Juice" and "Tiny Flower" she shows her power in her one-woman-band, where she only plays guitar and vocal, and beats and vocal, lading gently to "Sister Sleep" which is totally a capella.
None of the songs really climb up to the emotional furie of "Violence", which -smartly enough is her second track.
"Nothing but the silence on the street
Where we were meant to meet
There's nothing else to find here".
As for the chorus, the hole band's rolling out in a mad melodic banging instrumental part, that visualizes an enormous frustration and noise she has to get out of her head... No we are not playing the Psychovarist here, we just enjoyed the salvatory outlet of the track).
You might not find it that easy to like her songs if you just play it fast and once (like if you have loads of reviews to write for some "important" music mag, for example ,-)...), but after another round on the stereo they grab you with surprise and clever melodies. And of course her Sheryl Crow/PJ Harvey/Cat Power voice will undoubtfully charm you.
Rose Kemp does not aspire to be free, she is inventing and reinventing her own freedom. She shows her strength and weaknesses of anger and joy. There are no love songs, just a hand full of hurricanes.