Reviews - Kate Garrett "Coming Home" (Wild South West Single)
So there we were, compiling our top twenty Oxford songs of the decade, marvelling at Kate Garrett’s sensual vocals on The Mystics’ classic debut, ‘Dead’, and wondering what became of the lass. The very next day she’s up in the office proffering her own debut CD. Hmmm. Just thought we’d let you in on the crazy world we inhabit. The excitement never stops.
But anyway, Kate’s decided to forsake the pop game in favour of a more genteel sound. ‘Coming Home’ sees her utilising her quite extraordinary voice to best effect, delving into folk and jazz territory. Hardly surprising given her previous employment in Trio Hysteria, where she interpreted Bulgarian folk music. ‘Coming Home’ is a gentle stroll of a song, unconcerned with obvious choruses, more inclined to delicate shades-acoustic guitars, accordion, double bass; Kate herself sounds a little like former Snap singer Summer, carrying the vocal line of the song along on a breeze. Hardly instant, but increasingly engaging with repeated listening. ‘She’, recorded with Jonathan Nesmith, son of The Monkees’ Mike, is even more traditional folk, with a hint of eastern promise amid its wooded glade stroll, although it has a tendency to wash over you. The ‘Hush’ mix of ‘Darling’ is appropriate, with the song choosing to sit sweetly out of the limelight, like a shrinking violet. One for the more tender of constitution then, and a reminder of one of Oxford’s more lovely vocal talents. We await the big beat remix.
John Leeson
Night shift November 1999