David Kitt: Small Moments (Rough Trade)
While everybody babbles on about Dublin's hottest new singer-songwriter, the subject of their chatter discreetly slips out his debut album on the revived Rough Trade label, gingerly avoiding the death-ray glare of the hype merchants. Kitt's music is all about small, sublime moments, and these seven songs add up to one sustained feeling of peace and quietude. Kittser's sound is a universe away from folksy guitar-plucking; he deals in textures and ambience, using the language of electronica to transmit subtle emotional messages. Step Outside In The Morning Light and Sound Fades With Distance could be Eno without the artifice, or U2 without the overweening vision, but right now they're simply snapshots of a soundscape-in-progress. Kittser's songs are too small as yet to be held up against the greats, which is a good thing, because I suspect the joy may lie in watching him grow.
- Kevin Courtney
Thievery Corporation: The Mirror Conspiracy (4AD)
If laid-back Gallic grooves, ethnic electronica and smooth Latin beats are your bag, then beg, steal or borrow this second album by Thievery Corporation - or just go out and buy it. The musical globetrotting duo of Eric Hilton and Rob Garza take you once again on a trip-hop through an exotic mix, helped by vocals by Lou Lou, Pam Bricker, See-I and Bebel Gilberto. Tunes like Le Monde, Lebanese Blonde, So Com Voce and Samba Tranquille fly the world music flags while remaining grounded by the pair's Sixties easy-listening influences. Sometimes it all gets blown off course, veering dangerously close to New Age territory, but Hilton and Garza generally avoid the empty swirls and steer a straight course into the global future lounge.
- Kevin Courtney
Saint Low: Saint Low (Cooking Vinyl)
Your name is Mary Lorson. You sing in acclaimed New York combo, Madder Rose, making the kind of intelligent, ethereal guitar pop pioneered by 10,000 Maniacs. Most of the songs are written by the band's guitarist, Billy Cote, but every now and then you manage to contribute a laid-back tune of your own. Eventually, however, the pile of unused, self-penned material grows larger, until there's nothing else for it but to go out and make your own album under a different moniker. Hence this collection of personal songs written by Lorson, some of which are damn fine indeed, particularly Anywhere, Keep An Open Mind and Dreamland. Like Kristen Hersh, Lorson has a keen eye for poignant detail and a firm grasp of her musical roots, but she avoids the picayune in search of a wider emotional horizon.
- Kevin Courtney
Various artists: MI2: The Soundtrack (Hollywood Records)
Right: you're making an action film, and you need some bands to give you a kick-start. Are these the right bands? Well, the show opens with an explosive version of the main theme from Mission Impossible: 2, Take A Look Around by Limp Bizkit, a grunge, in-your-face mega-voyage through guitars, drums and a raging voice. Things continue in a strong rock vein with Foo Fighters, who, with Mr May of Queen, give an excellent burning of the Roger Waters number Have A Cigar, and there are acceptable offerings from Cornell, Buckcherry and Godsmack. But Metallica disappoint with I Disappear (too much wah-wah on the guitar) and while Tori Amos's Carnival is pleasant enough, too much of it might make you sleepy. Overall, though, highly recommended.
- Colm Banville