Katy Kirby – ‘Blue Raspberry’ album review: Chronicling the delicate romanticism of queer love
THE SKINNY: The journey to self-discovery isn’t always filled with thistles. Cool Dry Place was Katy Kirby‘s awakening, a delicate exploration of indie musings with originality and authenticity. Blue Raspberry, on the other hand, is her rose, a blistering colour of boldness piercing through the veils of her very identity.
Unravelling the poignant essence of this body of work requires delving into the intricacies of Kirby’s past. Emerging from an evangelical upbringing, Kirby translated her reflections into her debut, where her gentle crooning artfully encapsulated her perspectives and life experiences. In her second album, meticulously crafted in Nashville, she offers a captivating testament to her endeavour of making up for lost time, advancing in both artistic finesse and spirited exploration.
This album emanates a sense of warmth and enchantment as Kirby delivers celestial instrumentals and moves confidently to her own rhythm. She skilfully oscillates between conventional and traditional formats to craft something genuinely endearing, while the fusion of her gentle vocals and bass lines exudes an irresistible charm.
Poetic imagery weaves seamlessly throughout the entire album, showcasing Kirby’s lyrical prowess as she adeptly navigates the intricacies of romantic entanglements in a universally relatable way. In traversing the uncharted terrain of her first queer relationship, Kirby unfolds an earnest narrative of reflection and enlightenment. This journey is punctuated by the profound realisation that love, in all its manifestations, is as palpable as you could imagine, encapsulating the complexity of it all.
For fans of: Escaping the “heteropessimism”.
A concluding comment from Tom’s mother: “Beautiful. Like a folky Carole King with a Body Shop incense addiction.”
Blue Raspberry track by track:
Release Date: 26 January | Producer: Alberto Sewald and Logan Chung | Label: ANTI-
‘Redemption Arc’: The subtle piano creak is the first thing you hear on Blue Raspberry. ‘Redemption Arc’ begins with a gradual ascent, laying the groundwork for the cosmic journey poised to unfold throughout the rest of the album. “This one goes out to your redemption arc,” Kirby asserts, establishing the first ambience as one imbued with hope. [3/5]
‘Fences’: Running under two minutes, this track unfolds effortlessly, paying homage to the delicate artistry anchoring the entire album. Kirby’s lyrical prowess and ethereal vocals shine bright as ‘Fences’ navigates the complexities of relationships and self-reflection. [3/5]
‘Cubic Zirconia‘: “Why wouldn’t that be enough?” Kirby poses, crafting the crucial question with pop-infused elements around lively and shimmering piano melodies, along with a drum groove accentuated by atmospheric cymbals and a guitar component showcasing a delicacy that compliments Kirby’s accompanying vocals. [4.5/5]
‘Hand to Hand’: “I wrote this at a moment I was witnessing the gory breakdown of several relationships/couples all at the same time,” Kirby explains. “I don’t really want to invoke the word ‘heteropessimism’ here, but I guess it’s about something like it, or just about commitment in general.” ‘Hand to Hand’ seamlessly documents relationship breakdowns as she challenges toxic heteronormative dynamics: “Biting down to verify, Jesus Christ / Don’t you get tired of being that guy?” [4.5/5]
‘Wait Listen’: Documenting her first queer love, Kirby ensures that amid the uplifting moments, the stark reality also permeates now and then. This is particularly evident in the lines: “She called me a feast when we kissed up in her bedroom/ Then she apologised for biting in/ ‘I hope you’re into that’.” [3/5]
‘Drop Dead’: The joys and sorrows of love characterise the unhurried arrangements of ‘Drop Dead’. “Let me drop dead, Gorgeous,” she sings, accompanied by whimsical pianos and gentle drums. Self-awareness and introspection come to the fore on this track as Kirby graces over fluttering vocalisations. [3.5/5]
‘Party of the Century’: Kirby’s signature sweetness is everywhere on ‘Party of the Century’. Celebrating her friends while subtly protesting natalism and climate change, Kirby somehow manages to craft one of the most romantic songs of the year, all while maintaining an unabashed self-awareness about precisely what she’s accomplishing.
“It’s kind of also about physics and anti-natalism, and climate change, and also how much we love our friends,” she explained. “When we recorded it, I asked my band to try to make it sound like an Ed Sheeran song, which they refused to do.” [5/5]
‘Alexandria’: It’s often said that queer love carries a more poignant heartbreak than any other, and Kirby’s disquieting track ‘Alexandria’ serves as a compelling testament to that notion. With cello scrapes punctuating each line, the song unfolds as Kirby navigates the unravelling of her relationship, pleading for one final kiss before bidding farewell for good. [3/5]
‘Salt Crystal’: This track lays the foundation for some of Blue Raspberry‘s most heartbreaking moments. Kirby’s gentle cadence in delivering lines like “the salt left crystal/on the sunset/of your sunburned skin” might just be the album’s most profoundly poetic expression. [4/5]
‘Blue Raspberry’: Realness loses its relevance as Kirby effortlessly manoeuvres through the subjective nature of meaning. Much like the elusive nature of blue raspberries, the significance lies in what is felt. If it feels real, then it is. In the titular track of the album, Kirby effectively underscores the importance of our personal experiences when immersed in profound love. [3/5]
‘Table’: Throughout the album, Kirby skilfully employs self-assured, self-contained instrumentals to unfold into a vast, expansive contemplation on transient love within a complex world. This becomes palpable in ‘Table’, which concludes the album by transforming into a grand portrayal of Kirby’s upbringing. [3/5]
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