Ever since hearing that KT Tunstall once went to the school nearby mine, I have kept an interest in her work. It isn’t often that talent is spotted in my neck of the woods, although her time spent living in the States probably gave her a much broader opportunity. On September 27th, the Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist released her third album, Tiger Suit, after a two year break from the previous Drastic Fantastic. It is, without a doubt, her most brilliant album yet. Although set strongly in the mainstream due to her popularity, KT is not afraid to push the boundaries and to experiment with her musical capabilities. Known mainly and initially as an acoustic pop artist, she now considers herself to be part of the ‘nature techno’ scene. After hearing that, you would expect the album to be upbeat, energetic, modern and all-around, good fun; it definitely lives up to its anticipations, without losing its acoustic innocence.
Tiger Suit was recorded at Hansa Studio in Berlin, where one of KT’s influences, David Bowie, recorded his Heroes album. Her producer, Jim Abbiss, who brought bands such as Kasabian and Arctic Monkeys to their success, is in a great position to bring KT opportunities such as this. The singles Fade Like A Shadow and (Still A) Weirdo are only small introductions to the album, which features a number of great tunes that you will be singing along to for the rest of the day. Glamour Puss is a favourite for its confident, sassy atmosphere, differing from other hits such as Other Side of the World, although it has been compared with co-existing Suddenly I See, as both songs focus on a woman that seem to be the envy of KT Tunstall, which raises some questions for the seemingly self-assured rockstar. Come On, Get In caught my attention with its fast guitar-strumming and addictive clapping in the background, which will make anyone want to join in, and the almost American folk or soul feel to it.
The two halves of the album are neatly tied together with the soothing Lost, which initially reminded me of the television show, but I assure you that it is nothing similar in comparison. This song is one of the quietest on the album, but certainly one of the best, because it shows the depth of KT’s vocal capabilities and emotion. Lost shows us a side to KT that strays away from the rockstar look to allow us to see something more. And in conclusion, if you have ever found yourself singing along to one of her earliest hits, Tiger Suit will not fail to impress. If you are in the minority and have not heard of this fantastic musician, it is not too late to start. Eye To The Telescope will never be forgotten, but I’m sure we can make some room for this incredible and stunning improvement, which has exceeded my predictions.
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