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butterflies and broken glass - album review

Kim has opted to go for ten tracks thereby keeping the quality high. Production by Mattie Foulds, (Karine Polwart), has brought an elegant simplicity to the songs. The music business loves to categorise artists, however, listening to these songs leaves you with the pleasant feeling of knowing you enjoyed not knowing what was coming next...added to the mix are beautiful string or brass arrangements that lift the songs to a glorious place.

Dark songs like 'Just Outside Your Door' & 'House On The Hill' have a full rich sound. 'Heavy Skies' begins with a lovely acoustic guitar before filling out gradually with real strings drawing you into such a warm place. On 'Do You Feel Loved', penned by Chris Difford and Kim, it is both horns and viola that work the magic. Whereas on Robbie Burn's 'The Bonnie Lad' you have just a plaintive vocal and piano, a case of less is more. The powerful 'Scissors, Paper, Stone' about spousal abuse fairly bristles with menace and firelight Gypsy violin.

Kim has been audacious, following her different and unique groove, focusing on the way she wanted this album to sound. With sympathetic production she has pulled it off. Wonderful!

Leith FM