A Hazy Solitude Reminiscent of Nick Drake with Modern Beats, Loops and Effects...suggesting Influences as Diverse as Stereolab and Beth Orton. Romantic, but Not Traumatic. Kitt Won 'best Irish Solo Male - Rock' Category of... more » the 2002 Meteor Music Awards in Ireland, Beating Stiff Competition from the Likes of Van Morrison and Shane Mcgowan.« less
A Hazy Solitude Reminiscent of Nick Drake with Modern Beats, Loops and Effects...suggesting Influences as Diverse as Stereolab and Beth Orton. Romantic, but Not Traumatic. Kitt Won 'best Irish Solo Male - Rock' Category of the 2002 Meteor Music Awards in Ireland, Beating Stiff Competition from the Likes of Van Morrison and Shane Mcgowan.
CD Reviews
The Best Album This Year!!!
Ian Creamer | Dublin,Ireland | 09/25/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've heard lots of excellent new music this year,but none of it will come as close to perfection as this amazing c.d. from David Kitt.I bought this c.d. before the summer and I've been playing it constantly ever since.It's part of the New Acoustic Movement scene-yet I honestly can't see it being surpassed by any other album in terms of quality,sheer melody,beauty and production. David Kitt came to my attention after he released his first album 'Small Moments'.This album was ceratinly done on the cheap-recorded mostly on an 8 track at home.It showed that here is an artist with plenty of potential-yet the surprise to me is how soon this potential has been realised.This new c.d. is of the big studio quality-but Kitt seemed to miss the intimacy and returned to working on the simple 8 track for some of this album. Many people have likened Kitt to Elliot Smith or even Nick Drake,which I don't think is completely accurate.I think he sounds more like early James Taylor-especially vocally with his rich,soothing and versatile style.One can't help but feel up-lifted on hearing this voice.It isn't simply one man and his guitar either.He uses plenty of synths to beautiful effect,various drum machines,not to mention multi-instruments like the trumpet,sax,clarinet and not to mention instruments as diverse as glockenspiel and mellotron. Unlike many albums of this genre the lyrics are full of optimism and it has a feel good mood to it.He manages to paint vivid images of natural beauty of things we see every day and makes them feel so special.The songs are all about relationships and people who become so vivid they become vivid and clear in your mind.He doesn't wallow in the angst and sorrow that drives quite a lot of this particular genre. It's impossible to isolate stand out tracks.There isn't one dud track on this c.d.From the more the mid-tempo numbers like 'You Know What I Want To Know',with it's clarinet solo and multi-layered harmonies-this song has such a simple and memorable chorus.Then there's the mini-epic-'What I Ask'-a song with production quality so good that the last time I remember anything similar was Peter Gabriel on his album 'So'.For 8 minutes his rich voice mixes with some female vocal harmony-beautiful electric guitar.It may go on for 8 minutes but it's the sort of song you never want to end.'Private Dance' only lasts a little over 2 minutes but is epic in it's own inimatable way-one line repeated over and over-yet its altered with startling synth effects and yet more harmonious vocals.'Pale Blue Light' with it's multi-layered vocals and complex bass patterns that never threatens to swamp the song and swirling drum machine that builds to a climax with the lines 'Water coming down,water don't leave me'.You'll know exactly what I mean when you hear this song.Then there are the slower songs like 'Step Outside In The Morning Light'-where effects are minimal-just acoustic and a slow thud of the drum machine.This song is also on the first album,but it sounds so much better here.Then of course 'Strange Light In The Evening' which builds gently until yet another glorious climax when the vocoded vocals come in.This is 55 minutes of pure musical pleasure. I've reccomended this c.d. to quite a few people now-and each one has formed a similar opinion as to it's overall excellence.This I know now will be my album of the year-nothing can or will come near it.I could almost say that it should come with a money-back guarantee of quality of excellence assured!"
Absolutely Amazing!
Amber | Salt Lake City, UT United States | 11/06/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I discovered David Kitt when I wandered into a record shop while I was in Ireland in May. I bought this CD thinking it would be interesting to listen to once and I haven't put it away for more than a day since. Kitt's voice transports his listener to another place, a place where everything is beautiful and understated. Every song is rich in its simplicity and lack of pompousness. Kitt sings from his soul, he stands naked before his audience and opens his heart. I don't know how anyone could not like what they see and hear."
Amazing
Jared Mestler | Georgia | 09/26/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I found out about David Kitt on a recent trip to Ireland. Kitt is one of the most amazing artist I have heard of in a long while. The way he intergrates different sounds into his music makes his music come more alive. Both albums are truly amazing and will bring hours of listening pleasure. BUY THESE TWO CD'S, YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!"
Treasure trove
michael fierman | alabama, usa | 08/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"every song on this concept album glitters like a unique jewel; each with different cuts and remarkably scintillating facets. his knack for melody is completely natural and his arrangements are every bit as colorful as if they had been done by Rimsky-Korsakoff (had he ever had a synthesizer) the album is immediately accesable but not trite in any way. i hate to sinlge out any particular song because they are all so excellent but "you and the city" is a standout nonetheless. in todays music world; an ocean of atrocities and trash this is an oasis."
Warm with atmosphere, but holding something back
Jay Balfe | Buxton, NC | 05/03/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...Although i'm a huge Elliott Smith fan, & have a love for the low-fi & minimalistic, acoustic sound, i just had a hard time getting into this. Yes, i suppose this is low-fi, but at times, it almost sounds overly low-fi, almost cheesy. And its not that i dont like cheesy music, we all have our "guilty pleasures". As warm as these soft melodies are, I can't help but feel that David Kitt is holding something back from us. Although his voice is lovely, reminding me at times of Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters), i'm not sure if it quite makes up for the lacsidaisical production. I'm not sure if this was intentional or on purpose, but it just sounds like the artist was a bit lazy, & could have done alot more with these songs. I dont know why such a talented artist such as this David Kitt, would waste his time with poor sounding recording equipment. I believe he could sincerely put his talent to use in a professional studio. These songs are quite wonderful, but they're just boardering on the truely magnificent. At times Kitt also reminds me of another hidden gem of a band called Departure Lounge, the only difference being that Departure Lounge actually brings their talent to fruitation w/ proper recording equipment. Another reviewer likened Kitt to Nick Drake, i also dont feel this was a fair or accurate comparison of Kitts music. Nick Drake was a very dark & enigmatic character who's music floated around an existential philisophical backround. Kitt is neither dark nor enigmatic from what little i know of him... Although Kitts melodies are beautiful like Drakes were, his are not dark & haunting. Kitts music gives me more of a warm, optimistic type of vibe. Another reviewer said that Kitts music was: "romantic yet not traumatic". This is the only description of Kitts music that i've come across, that is accurate. For me their really arent any standouts on this cd, but the 1st track: "Song from hope st. (brooklyn,ny) really caught my ear. Track 8: "Whispers return the sun, rest the moon" is a very lovely & memorable tune, as track 9: "You and the city", and track 10: "Into the breeze". Although i do understand, why people love the music of this native Irishman, i just feel that David Kitt himself possesses alot of potential that he's holding back from his listeners. ..."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1