Kathryn Claire - Eastern Bound For Glory
PREMIERE | KATHRYN CLAIRE UNVEILS ‘EASTERN BOUND FOR GLORY’
Alt-folk singer-songwriter Kathryn Claire introduces a new album, Eastern Bound For Glory, reflecting a dizzying array of emotions traveling on evocative tones ranging from folk-lite to sinewy flavors of alt-rock. The injection of the latter tangs is the biggest change from her previous releases.
Kathryn Claire
Inspired by her life crisscrossing the globe on tour, Claire returned to Portland, Oregon to put together the album.
According to Claire, “I caught a lot of these songs during soundchecks, while in green rooms, and while staying in other people’s apartments. It was a blur, but, throughout it, it was like my voice was calling to me.”
Claire wrote all the songs on the album, sings, and plays acoustic guitar, violin, and electric guitar. Recorded at Saint Cecelia Studios in Portland, the album was produced by Steven Lee Tracy and features the talents of Allen Hunter (bass), Sid Ditson (violin), Don Henson (piano), and Micah Kassell (drums).
Encompassing 10-tracks, entry points on the album include “Stay Gold,” a buff folk song riding opaque colors mirroring aromas of nostalgic melancholy. The role of the bassline on this track informs the rhythm with alluring pulses bordering on hypnotic. Sweeping strings imbue the tune with gentle foamy hues.
Claire explains “Annalisa,” saying, “It’s written from being in a relationship and feeling lonely with the other person and knowing it needs to end, but also knowing you will miss them.”
The title track delivers a bewitching rhythm – pushing listeners along on the bassline, as chiming keyboards and keening violins imbue the harmonics with delectable sliding coloration. This might be my favorite track on the album because of its propelling energy and layers of sonic pigments.
“Up and Down” opens on dark, sensuous tones, thrumming with trickling energy and hazy shimmering guitar accents. The rumbling drive of the bassline provides a fat matrix for the luminous colors gliding overhead. Swirling strings and hints of Spaghetti Western-savors suffuse the tune with mounting timbres.
“Annalisa” is the prettiest song on the album, riding dreamy nursery rhyme surface inflections, all topped by Claire’s exquisitely gorgeous voice, clean and crystalline, rife with delicate textures.
Claire explains “Annalisa,” saying, “It’s written from being in a relationship and feeling lonely with the other person and knowing it needs to end, but also knowing you will miss them.”
Eastern Bound For Glory is wonderfully wrought, baring authentic emotional intensity transported on the oh so expressive voice of Kathryn Claire, a voice conjuring up memories of Joni Mitchell.
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