KT Tunstall – Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon

KT Tunstall remains a complete musician. Without the need of a huge team or heavy production, she is an artist whose technical and lyrical abilities never diminish.

It’s been a difficult year for Tunstall, and although she retains an eternal youthfulness there is now present a solemn maturity in her voice. Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon, with its categorical country & western characteristics, appears to stem from a parallel concept of exhaustion (with life, with love) and barrenness. It’s an interesting vision from Tunstall, one which will undoubtedly reap rewards in breaking America, but one that possesses a slight lack of diversity. It feels here as though the album’s target audience has been narrowed. Such specific targeting isn’t a failing, but it was the absence of such remoteness that made Eye to the Telescope such a masterpiece – one which appealed to the masses with intelligence and amazing variety.

Waiting on the Heart is undoubtedly Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon’s killer track. From the moment the drums roll in as if carried on the wind, the song cascades with Tunstall’s signature harmonies. It’s in-keeping with the album’s breakability and delicateness, but KT’s coolness gives it that extra edge, and moments later, the strange little middle-eight will give you chills. It is tender and acutely feminine, but transcends the steady sequence of all other songs with its rolling progression.

KT Tunstall withstands time and is a prime example of the durable British singer-songwriter that we are proud of. Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon represents a turning point in her musical career: she’s grown up, as everyone does. There’s nothing bad about this album; its sentimentality and drift are brave. It is questionable that such a strong Western motif was wise, but only time and play count can tell.

Hannah Wallace

Invisible Empire is released on June 10^th 2013. For further information or to order the album visit KT Tunstall’s website here.

Watch the video for Feel It All here: