KT Tunstall - 'Hold On'
In 'Merry Happy', one of the stand-out songs on Kate Nash's VERYVERYGOOD debut album, Kate (or, in honour of La Tunst, K8), points out that "you can grow flowers from where dirt used to be". Now, apart from the fact that this is 100% incorrect - you can grow flowers from dirt (or soil, as it's more commonly known), you can't grow flowers from the absence of dirt - there's something about this statement which brings KT Tunstall to mind.
It's partly because you don't expect super-glam proper pop stars to prosper in the acidic mulch of a folk collective, but seeing as I'm very sure that the rest of KT's former strum-buddies would hunt down and maim anyone who referred to them as the 'dirt' from which the Tunstall Tulip has grown, it's probably a good idea not to linger on that point. Plus part of KT's appeal is that she's just as much soil as she is plant.
Nonetheless, a precious orchid is what she is. The kind of hardy perennial that grows best outside of a hothouse environment, needs very little in the way of constant attention, and has really strong roots. One of those organically-grown blooms, who has blossomed with the benefit of natural fertilisers and the kind of pesticide which is so devoid of chemical enhancement you need to ask each pesky little mite really politely to leave just after spraying, if you want it to work.
There, I think that's all the flower metaphors you can do about KT Tunstall.
So, to the song itself. Fans of KT's more gruff, bluesy, hand-clappy, upbeat, no-nonsense material (that's basically 'Suddenly I See' and the one about the horse) will be pleased to learn she's paid another visit to whatever well of inspiration she drew from to make those songs in the first place.
If I'm honest, after all that flower stuff, this song is actually a tad nondescript. It stomps and hollers up a storm, but it doesn't really go anywhere KT's never been before. I'm sure if I really thought about it I could make some pollen and spores reference out of this. But it's probably best just to leave everything as it is. You don't mess with Mother Nature, after all...
Oh, and before you go, check THIS out. This is how you do a cover version, peoples...
Download: Out now
CD Released: July 30th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
I'm rather taken with Ms Tunstall, even if she did abandon Embra for the barren lands o' Fife.
However, I have to agree that the new single is a beat in search of a chorus.
But her cover really does rock, in a totally splendid manner, as I discovered upon [sshhh] downloading it a wee while back.
I don't know how anyone could say anything bad about KT. Although I haven't yet heard her new single, what I do know is that she is one of the most real, genuinely talented singers on the market today. And we really don't have enough of them.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a song to go and download...
damn..i thought dat lady with the blue top was a drag lol!!
I agree with ladyjasmine, KT is one of the few really talented singers we have left. I love her new song!