THE KARMA HEART - review added 9th December 2010
Album Review: Throw Your Light (2010)
For fans of: Alt Rock... and name changes
The Karma Heart, formerly known as Remedy, last featured on these pages with their 2009 EP "Strange Fast Now" - see the review here. The band now features an altered line-up of singer Jenn Cherene, guitarist Graham Haswell, bass player Lee Tuck, and new boy Phil Bell on drums.
The sound is unsurprising similar to that of their former iteration, and is again dominated by the volume-rich singing of Jenn.The musicianship is angled towards the world of retro with a foot firmly in the 1970s, but there's a modern twang here too - certainly more than last time out.
Good:
The production is a big step forwards from the EP, boasting a smooth and subtle sound. The raw-ish guitars are gone, replaced by a more cohesive professional vibe. Jenn's vocals are so loud it's scary. She's only about 3ft 7in in real life (maybe a slight underestimation), but can kick out noise like a blue whale with a megaphone. She also does quieter, more sultry styles with aplomb - although big volume is where she is really at home.
Not So Good:
Because of the ultra smooth production, some of the character of the musicianship is lost. See these guys live and they have bags of individuality - especially Lee on bass - but on this record that doesn't shine through. Why the name change? Didn't see anything wrong with Remedy personally, and it's not like the guys have gone down a completely different musical avenue.
The Songs:
'Another Religion' is a speedy party rocker that'll leave you gagging for breath. 'Coming Undone' has some fat rhythms lurking under the surface, and will be a heavy monster live. 'Desire' was the best song on the EP and it pops up again here in more or less the same form. 'Gravitate' is a big rapid track with a near-soft-metal vibe, albeit with the gain turned down a few notches. 'Honest Child' is a pleasant mid-tempo effort, but it isn't massively memorable. I could imagine the bouncy 'Kamikaze Comraderie' doing well for itself on the radio and the charts.
'King Karma' is not far from being a Sade song. Who'd have thought? 'The City's A Desert' is a slightly softer one too, although it's a loud take on soft...if such a thing is possible. 'The Fated' is by far and away the best track on the album. The rhythms are massive, and it's no wonder they chose this one as the first single. 'The Remedy', with a nod to times of old, is a little lost after the previous track, but it's just about okay. Final entry 'There's Not A Star In The Sky...' is again okay, but not up with the album's best.
In Summation:
"Throw Your Light" is a very likeable album with some huge performances, but there's still room for improvement. The band need songs with bigger hooks and choruses...but at least with 'Throw Your Light' they are heading firmly in the right direction.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
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Overall:
Check out... 'The Fated'
Track List:
01. Another Religion
02. Coming Undone
03. Desire
04. Gravitate
05. Honest Child
06. Kamikaze Comraderie
07. King Karma
08. The City's A Desert
09. The Fated
10. The Remedy
11. There's Not A Star In The Sky...
Artist's website(s): The Karma Heart | MySpace | Facebook
