Friday 16 April 2021

Album Review: Run Katie Run - Running on Love

 


www.runkatierun.com

Run Katie Run is the curious title of a new band corralling around the talents of Kate Coleman who has teamed up with four other players to serve up a vivacious, fetching and fast spinning short collection of genre-bending songs. RUNNING ON LOVE may or may not keep those who choose to label genres guessing, but any time exploring, pondering or just plainly enjoying the music is worthwhile. This Atlanta based operation has morphed out of Coleman's solo work and duo adventure with husband Corey who contributes guitar to the record. The six tracks forming this debut EP navigate around their own individual axes with three of them being peeled off for promotion as single releases. 

A common feature across the EP is Coleman's bright and breezy vocals injecting a touch of sparkle into the proceedings. They are forthright and embracingly positive making this a record to turn to when you are in a feel good spirit. Coleman is also the principle songwriter taking the solo credit on five of the six numbers including the spritely lead off piece. '15 Minutes' may be a well trodden subject in art, but the musical celebration here lights up the road. 

Numerous plays of the EP that only asks for twenty four minutes of your precious listening time does suggest that the opening track is quite a domineering presence. A mash up of Americana, roots rock, indie-pop and alternative has been a phrase used to support this record and is probably not too far off a subjective mark. Second track 'No Way Out' is itself a concoction of styles in its three and a half minute existence. Campbell does display a touch of vocal versatility in the slightly rockier 'Stolen Time' that acted as the second single and occupies third place in the running order of RUNNING OF LOVE.

'Kinda Hoping' has a little more of a pop pretence, though largely in an accessible than populist nature. 'Stay or Leave' takes things in an unexpected funky direction. This gives the band an opportunity to extend their repertoire of generating a diverse soundtrack. The title track draws things to a close with 'Running on Love' rolling out as the third single and signing things off in a way that attempts to pull the sound together in a conclusive direction. 

RUNNING ON LOVE has a finely spun appeal to it. Run Katie Run in full tandem flex their musical muscles admirably and we are left with a record securely lodged in the credit territory of a busy music listener's pile. An artist can ask no more than make a mark and hopefully log a few sales.