When I jumped into Katy Kirby’s first album, Cool Dry Place, I stood immediately enamored by the instrumentations and how the delicate textures enunciated Kirby’s vocals, making the delivery of the words feel more entrenched with depth. That continues and expounds on it significantly, giving us an early 2024 standout that follows through with a beautiful cadence as Katy Kirby delivers her story. Modestly shifting from her last album, Kirby is bridging into more singer/songwriter territory while evoking the influence of 70s Folk Rock within the production and elevating herself further as an artist with an inherent identity and a tender soul, and making Blue Raspberry an immediate surprise that I didn’t want to end. It excels in giving us a further look at an artist with an extraordinary sense of consistency with the story behind the other factions getting delivered individually to mold it together. Much of the album speaks to Kirby’s internal strife with figuring out who she is and feeling comfortable through the ups and downs. As it goes from start to finish, some of the production’s whimsy can dry, though minimally, but Kirby’s vocals and writing give it an extended life you’ll want to get to the end.
As I’ve stated, Blue Raspberry continues to show the height of Katy Kirby’s talent; much of it is because of the impactful nature this has compared to Cool Dry Place, which snuck in as a surprise back in 2021. It lingered as I kept my ears and eyes out for new material, as I assume many have, and having that linger boasted the anticipation to spin the album, and that hype didn’t disappoint. As Katy Kirby transitions from song to song, there is a differentiating element entwined in its separation from the previous song, allowing her to keep the focus heavy on its themes with a lavish instrumental backdrop. It’s what separates the elegant acoustics and heightened effects of “Redemption Arc” and the more classically constructed instrumentation of “Fences,” which then leads into the mesmerizingly “Cubic Zirconia,” where it adds to the production like with synths—it realizes it further into this grand self-worth anthem. The music continues as an ongoing stream of consciousness that feels lyrically entwined with Kirby’s first queer relationship and its incline and decline throughout. Unfortunately, there is one song that doesn’t stick and minor moments where the production can act safely before switching it up, requiring some patience.
However, Katy Kirby’s vocals are the definitive highlight of the album that keeps you hooked—I’ve retread that thought a few times, and that notion is apparent throughout Blue Raspberry, where Kirby’s vocals are tender, soulful, and contains some fun—you get a different complexion with each song; they all hit, even when the final product isn’t 100%. One that stood out instantly was “Party of the Century,” where the cello and mellotron embolden the surrounding instruments to elevate their notes, giving Katy Kirby different ranges to tell her story; here, she reflects on the notions of kids and the conversation that sometimes comes about them when taking the next step in a relationship. There is a heavy focus on relationships as it’s poignant in telling her story of finally feeling herself, even writing a song about someone in “Alexandria.” Unfortunately, it’s forgettable because its production switches take you from one linear and easy note to another, which doesn’t move the needle. Others have linear constructs, but that’s as a base incorporating unique overtures to shine differently, making “Alexandria” more of a simple love song that many will love, even if the production doesn’t clique fully for me.
Intertwined amongst the illustrious productions are some keen ballads, like “Salt Crystal,” which is this elegant piano-heavy ballad that reconfigures the material of cubic zirconia to establish a perspective that is more internally personal, where her partner may not feel that she shines enough to deserve Kirby’s love, despite Kirby’s telling her otherwise. Comparatively, it’s the most gripping ballad to ballad-esque performances Kirby delivers—coming from an ingrained soul, her vocals grab from it and shines over safe, but effective and titillating production. It’s evident with “Wait Listen,” where the production isn’t so effective, becoming a slight afterthought, stabilizing to let her lyrics bleed effectively. Others balance greatly, adding unique instrumentation to keep you focused and loving it. Like with “Fences” and its more eloquent barebones production, as it speaks to taking a chance, similar to the notion of “you miss all the shots you don’t take.” Kirby brings metaphors and allusions that highlight her meanings greatly. Like with “Wait Listen,” Katy Kirby notes what “Blue Raspberry” is to her: an internal image of the artificiality, making her feel safe because in a relationship as it’s still real, a notion that lingers in the themes of her lyrics; this is about Kirby feeling secure enough to be so open.
Blue Raspberry is a fantastic feat for a sophomore album, especially as it excels past expectations from Kirby’s first album, Cool Dry Place. It takes you on melancholy but heartfelt and in-depth journeys that have a sense of purpose beyond the interpersonal. The writing and production stay elevated, finding balance to give Kirby an edge when performing, even if the song doesn’t come out all great like “Alexandria.” I loved this album more than expected, and it’s enough that it gets my stamping of approval, especially as I hope you get the titillating greatness that progresses through it. Give it a listen; I know you won’t be disappointed.
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