OR   Search for Artist/Title    Advanced Search
 
you are not logged in...  [login] 
All Reviews    Edit This Review     
Review: 'KENNEY, MO'
'Mo Kenney'   

-  Label: 'Middle Of Nowhere Recordings'
-  Genre: 'Pop' -  Release Date: '7th April 2014'

Our Rating:
This 23 year-old Canadian singer songwriter is something of a rising star if the press accolades are to be believed.

Her debut album came out in 2012 so has taken a while to get to Europe.

Accompanied only by Joel Plaskett, it features ten uncluttered arrangements on , mostly acoustic, guitars.

Kenney writes clean, crisp tunes which she is content to describe as "pop music with a folky twist". This label actually does her a disservice as she's more than just another twee, happy-go-lucky singer.

Despite the simplicity of the songs, there's a sense that she wants to do something different with the girl meets boy, girl loses boy formula. You'd hardly call it experimental but she's clearly concerned to take the listener beyond the usual clichés. The Happy Song, for instance, is far from the cheesy tune you'd expect.

"You knew that I was subject to a fall, Now I wish I hadn't made that call"she sings on Eden which, alongside Deja Vu, is one the album's most radio-friendly tunes. On Sucker a line like "You gave me a look that I could taste" is very effective.       

Some of the songs were written when she was just 15. Carnivore is about a black sheep in her class at school and a juvenile awkwardness pervades In My Lungs although lyrics like "You are hiding in my lungs like a bat in a cave" are are a little clunky.

Her cover version of Bowie's Five Years is a bold choice although not a song that suits her vocal style that well.

Mostly, however, she has a very sure touch and covers a range of moods from slow and maudlin to upbeat and joyful. The electric guitar on The Great Escape and Scene Of The Crime add a little variety.

All in all, a strong collection of intelligent songs that sound better on each hearing.

Mo Kenney's website
  author: Martin Raybould

[Show all reviews for this Artist]

READERS COMMENTS    10 comments still available (max 10)    [Click here to add your own comments]

There are currently no comments...
----------



KENNEY, MO - Mo Kenney