Before addressing the quality of Katy Rose Bennett’s new
album SONGS OF THE RIVER REA, two features immediately stand out: a set of
songs based on Birmingham’s often hidden river and a Dreaming Spires presence.
Of course Katy is the brother of Joe and Robin from Oxfordshire’s finest band
and it is indeed Joe who lends his all-round music expertise to the project by
assuming the production role. However you need the key components in place first and
Katy skilfully provides these in the guise of eleven exquisitely crafted songs.
The River Rea has only a short existence of 14 miles,
extensively buried under the city centre, yet still provides the inspiration
for a savvy collection of interesting songs stretching the breadth of the roots
spectrum in their unravelling. Katy is equally at home in delivering the songs
in laid back mode as well as the upbeat numbers pulling away from the folk
tinge and bordering Americana territory. The strength, tenacity and deep rooted
appeal of the songs are a credit to Katy who is returning to the status of
recording artist following a busy break. The story numbers grab your attention
with a vice like grip, while the personal reflections reveal an individual fully
comfortable in sharing her thoughts and feelings via the medium of song.
Apart from Joe’s general work across the record, which ensures
a lo-fi Dreaming Spires stamp is left on the sound, and Robin’s flute
contribution, the other name to jump out from the players is the presence of
the ever-in-demand CJ Hillman playing pedal steel on one of the tracks. Perhaps
a more prominent role is undertaken by the guitar skills of Phil Ward, present
on most pieces, with a neat solo surfacing on one of the stand out numbers ‘Rusted Ring’. This is a song signposted
for promotion of the album and vies for top spot with several other impressive
candidates.
These include the wide reaching style of Katy’s writing
which leads off with the sensory dominated opener ‘Cold November Day’. Stark references are aplenty in ‘Counting Kettles’, while ‘Jack & Ivy’ is rich in pure nostalgia
and explicitly cracks the genre of emotive storytelling through song. There is
a sense of joy surrounding the most personal song on the album and there is no
holding back on the sheer emotion pouring out of ‘Driving Home’, all delivered in an upbeat style adorned with far
from solemn steel.
The songs comprising this collection have evolved over the
last decade and it was during this period when Katy first crossed my path as a
performing artist when opening regularly for the acclaimed North American folk ‘n’
roots group Po Girl. These gigs were held at the Kitchen Garden Café and Katy
recently returned to the venue to successfully launch this, her fourth album.
Two further tracks demand increased attention headed by the
rousing finale ‘My Friend’, closely
followed by the slightly funky and forever spritely ‘One Day’. These form significant parts of a record, heavy in
variety and consistent in ear pleasing quality. Occasionally, local references
creep into the lyrics and sit neatly alongside social observational comments
ranging from football to daytime soaps. The whole entity of SONGS OF THE RIVER
REA invites many repeat listens and continues to throw up intrinsic parts when
the plays hit double figures.
Katy Rose Bennett should be immensely proud of this record
and with a flow of good fortune it should reach the ears of many music devotees
excited by the combined art of fine song and expert musicianship. The River Rea
is destined to be a hidden feature of Birmingham’s landscape but SONGS OF THE
RIVER REA may just surface to wider recognition.
www.katyrosebennett.com
Listen to Rusted Ring
