Wiki
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Release Date
31 August 2008
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Length
12 tracks
release date : 01.09.08
hobopop recordings is proud to present ‘the kansas sessions’, the fourth studio album of original songs from acclaimed uk singer-songwriter kirsty mcgee, produced and recorded under a hard mid-west winter in lawrence, kansas by mike west of truckstop honeymoon.
the album results from a new phase of prosperous independence for mcgee and long term collaborator mat martin, having severed ties with previous management and record company in early 2007. this glimpse into mcgee’s world shows the same diversity of lyricism she has consistently displayed throughout her catalogue. vagrancy, love, wanderlust, human frailty - all feature here as before, but this time the mix is made heady by the addition of more politicised material, including songs of war, greed, betrayal and corruption.
from the groovy new orleans jazz beats of the anti-capitalist profit song to the dark intimacy of twisted ballads like sandman and dust devils, ‘the kansas sessions’ finds mcgee making statements of real integrity within the rich tradition of original songwriting in which she is already well established. her trademark ‘hobopop’ sound, setting edgy grooves against tender yet dark textures has grown in scope, encompassing what can only be described as a ‘vaudebilly’ style - banjo, double bass, clarinet, trombone…
the recordings continue to highlight mcgee’s distinctive ability to meld incisive words with infectious melodies and cut straight to the heart of her subject matter; a talent which has earned her two bbc folk award nominations, countless glowing press reviews and seen her in demand for all the major uk folk festivals over the past few years.
‘the kansas sessions’ represents a clear departure for mcgee who, despite being influenced principally by american music and culture has always previously recorded in the uk, working with producers such as john wood, boo hewerdine and neill maccoll. mike west has been a strong influence on mcgee since the 1980s when his band the man from del monte were living and playing in the uk. with his jagged, edgy style, verve and tenacity, he was the clear choice for the job of producer, a choice which took mcgee halfway across the world, and this batch of american-inspired songs back to their roots.
written by mcgee, arranged and refined in close collaboration with mat martin over a period of a couple of years and extensively road-tested through several uk and international tours, the twelve songs on ‘the kansas sessions’ are a document of intense clarity of purpose. the recordings, made ‘live’ in the studio, attest to this with eloquence, but not without a sense of fun. mcgee, martin and west have put together an album of great integrity, original thought, and most importantly truly high quality songs and sincere performances.
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