Kate Dimbleby - Songbirds

The Guardian 60

(Folkstock Records)

Best known for her one-woman shows about other female singers, Kate Dimbleby dramatically changes direction with a largely a cappella solo album of her own songs, in which she is backed by harmonies and effects provided entirely by her own voice. It’s a technique that she mastered after studying with Bobby McFerrin in New York and the result is a set that is subtle, fresh and at times gently startling. She was clearly concentrating on both mood and rhythm as she built up the often complex layers of backing, that include sudden bursts of close harmony singing. But such skills never get in the way of the songs, which are often soulful, personal, and range from the thoughtful and gently melancholic Limbo to the gospel-influenced At Our Best or the gently charming Walk Away. The final track introduces unnecessary electronic effects.