Album Review: Katy B - Little Red

Katy B
Little Red
Rating: Grrrr

Katy B's debut record On A Mission, while one of the best pop records of 2011, suffered from a lack of cohesion; trying to be too many things for too many people, not quite sure it wanted to be a pop record or underground smash. After a few years working on her follow up, and releasing the brilliant teaser EP Danger, Katy B returns with her second record Little Red. Almost fully jettisoning the dubstep that colored the majority of On A Mission, Katy still is mining the outskirts of UK bass culture, while turning her focus to a more chart-topping trajectory. While no one is going to accuse her of joining the Top 40 bandwagon like her contemporaries from the BRIT School (Adele, Leona Lewis, and Jessie J), Katy B is definitely striking out for more chart gold here, putting together a good mix of pop confections along with more edgier fare.

For me, of course, the edgier tracks are the ones I find myself going back to more often. Danger's standout track "Aaliyah" makes a reappearance here, and the interplay with sultry singer Jessie Ware is still as intoxicating.



Other standout tracks on Little Red include the house thumper "I Like You;"



dance floor pleaser "Everything;" and the somber, atmospheric bass track "Sapphire Blue" which showcases her lovely range.

While Katy still holds on to her underground bona fides, she is also willing to test more traditional pop waters, enlisting such high end producers like Guy Chambers, who has worked with Robbie Williams. One of their collaborations, "Crying For No Reason" starts out like a typical diva ballad, but somehow reigns it all in to fit Katy's distinct personality.



She also hits it out of the park with two late album tracks, "Emotions" and "Still," the former taking her beautiful voice to the highest highs amid swirling strings, synths, and a slowly growing drum and bass beat, while the latter closes the record with one of her most stately performances, her voice in complete control.



Little Red's consistency is its strong suit, with Katy B finding the right tone and mix of her various musical styles. With her toes still in UK bass culture, she spreads her wings out to venture into new territory and comes up with a winning formula. While it may lack the shock of the new that On A Mission was able to provide, this record definitely shows that she is firmly in control of her direction, and will likely be around for a long time.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.