Kathryn Williams has released her twelfth album today. The songs were inspired by Sylvia Plath's 'The Bell Jar' and the record is called 'Hypoxia' which, is released via One Little Indian Records.
I guess perhaps when you get over the ten album mark it not unreasonable to think that a certain amount of 'treading water' may occur. In the case of Kathryn Williams nothing could be further from the truth.
This is a gem of a record and one that should stick with you as a musical companion for some time to come. The original idea for the album came back in 2013 when Kathryn received a call from New Writing North asking if she would accept an open commission to write something about Sylvia Plath for the Durham Book Festival's celebration of her life and work, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of The Bell Jar's publication.
In October of 2014, Kathryn performed five original songs inspired by The Bell Jar at Durham Town Hall - alongside writer Andrew Wilson reading from his book 'Mad Girl's Love Song - Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted' - "it was a surreal experience to share these songs that felt like secrets," she says of the show.
Kathryn continued to write songs 'for' the book over the next year ("This strange little cuckoo that had pushed my other records out of the way was demanding to be fed."). With 8 songs ready, Kathryn enlisted the help of friend and collaborator Ed Harcourt who produced and engineered the album, also co-writing a ninth song, 'Cuckoo'.
This is an album of many twists and turns from angelic gentleness 'Electric', Cuckoo', 'Beating Heart' to groovy tunes 'Tango' with Marco' 'Mirrors and 'The Mind is it's own Place. There are many musical textures over the ten songs which just drift into and out of you subconscious as you listen.
Kathryn Williams is a massive talent from this Island of ours; let's hope album number 12 brings this lady even more recognition for a very fine piece of work.
Pete
9/11
Tour dates
Wed 17th June The Black Swan, York
Thur 18th June The Burgess Foundation, Manchester
Fri 19th June The Victoria Theatre (Green Room), Halifax
Sun 21st June The Voodoo Rooms (Speakeasy Bar), Edinburgh
Wed 1st July The Kitchen Garden Café, Birmingham
Thur 2nd July Octagon Chapel, Norwich
Fri 3rd July Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate
Sat 4th July The Folk House, Bristol
Wed 8th July The Green Note, London
Thur 9th July Cluny 2, Newcastle upon Tyne