Reviews - DECODE magazine recommends: Bath/Bristol May 2005
The Kate Garrett band are a folk rock three piece, two thirds of which are based in Oxford, one third in Bath. The Homefront EP is, simply put, their cracking debut. It’s like a good pair of kids shoes; solid, unfussy, well put together and with a little room for growing.
The title track is a moody folk-rock nod-along that rises and falls expertly, leading us to a distorted chorus that adds a well-judged edge to proceedings. No Place Like Us makes the most of Kate’s powerful vocal, ably pushed along by that stunning cello work making it by some way the strongest and simplest track on offer. And as for The Boatman, it’s lovely and unnerving in equal measures. It begins like a nursery rhyme and seems to tell a terrible stormy story that could give you nightmares. It’s mostly perfect if not a little too long – carrying over to a brief jazzy flute and vocal choral thing that sounds a little out of place after such a delicate start. Still, what’s demonstrated overwhelmingly in this four track EP is extremely competent musicianship, a great ear for a catchy tune and, without treading too far into the MOR, some very mature songwriting. Alas, one of their biggest assets could be a disadvantage - that ‘mature’ thing that I mentioned. Some people are going to love this, some aren’t going to like it all. What’s certain is that there’s a discerning audience out there awaiting The Kate Garrett Band’s debut LP with baited breath, and the Homefront EP is a welcome taster of what’s to follow.
Paul Cunliffe