Co-written and produced by Robert F. Cranny – he who helped out Sarah Blasko on her first two albums – the debut release from Sydney singer Katie Whyte shares a lot in common with that Australian singer’s melancholic and understated music.
Indeed, the songs here all sound polished and immaculate.
Both ‘Summer Raincheck’ and ‘Strong Glowing Lights’ are lush, breezy and introverted; the former with light acoustic guitar and organ, and the latter with a slow intro with lonely horns that speeds up with some bouncy piano chords that belie Whyte’s understated vocals.
Unfortunately the modest singing Whyte adorns these tracks with is also the thing that makes the inoffensive ‘Ill At Ease’ sound cautious and ultimately unmemorable.
Elsewhere though, the frenetic guitar work on ‘Low Flying Planes’ ends things on a decidedly more tense and unresolved note.
While future releases will hopefully see her take on a more commanding presence, this debut release is a promising collection of laidback, bittersweet tunes perfect for listening to in the warmer months.
