Kim Vogels – Native
URL: https://www.kimvogels.com/
Being brought up surrounded by so many different cultures, Kim Vogels was drawn to the power and energy of the original sound of those worlds i.e. Flamenco, Klezmer, Celtic, early Persian, Gypsy, Native American, Folk & Blues etc. Even though these musical styles are all quite different from each other, they hold a similarity in their powerful connection to their culture. “Native” is the EP which also includes a promo video for the track “Call Of The Wild.”
These genres are all defined in Kim Vogels’ music, with perhaps the hardest to nail being the Gypsy and Flamenco influences. They’re in there but just not as featured as the rest listed in her bio. What’s interesting about that is how she blends together these styles to come up with what is still a very folk oriented release. But it’s just not limited to that by any means, as it gets underway with “Years Ago.” And she could not have chosen a better lead off track, as it sets up the stories which these songs all tell with an intense but non-menacing zeal. As the track builds it gets better, but it does contain some bitter lyrics. But those lyrics are imperative to the whole track delivering the best way to open the EP. This is kept going on the excellent “Two Of A Kind” as it separates the first two tracks from the last two. With the track that follows this one left to its own devices, but more on that as the EP is described. This is a song about riding in pairs for good reasons. It mentions horses and pistols as it goes through a battle story to get the meaning across. This is pretty cool indeed, as she gives it a slightly spooky sound to drive the drama of it all. The drums are delivered at their finest on this track as the pace kicks up and pushes it to the brink of all enjoyment. This has an ever jubilant vibe as it continues, and easily clocks in with the best on offer. As much can be said about this track as any on “Native,” as it progresses. “Call Of The Wild” sits right in-between two sets of tracks that each go together well, so it’s the breaking point of the EP, and well-chosen to accompany with a video. And it is a film that covers the entire atmosphere of the EP. A lot is happening with this making up for much of the overall ambience of the release, while it stands on its own two feet in the middle of it all. There are some flurries of Flamenco guitar in this, and it has an overall Gypsy appeal to it that goes far in showing that element for those confused by the inclusion of it. Just pointing that out for those who might not pin-point this influence, but would like to know where it lies. And that makes way for “Daisy” which is a long song in disguise, as it explores both the nature and human sides of life. It begins with some light sing-along notes and goes onto singing about a girl and how she resembles the flower in her hair. The music is almost kind of haunting as it continues to go through some drum beats that are accompanied by some exquisite strings. You get taken through the life and death of the girl and the flower as she seems to get washed out to sea, leaving behind a lonesome feel. And the strings intertwine with some great horn work that masterfully completes this song and puts the finishing touches on it, not to be found elsewhere. But some of the same feel is kept on the closer. “Till The End Of Time” takes this EP out with everything it has, as they all go nicely together, but manage their own weight so to speak. It makes up the second song of the two sets of tracks with the same overall speed and interest-levels making it closer to the previous track than the rest.
This leaves skipping around the tracks to an easy thing to do, withstanding its limitation to five tracks. This leaves an overall ability to loop the tracks on the headphones without losing the concept of the EP’s outdoorsy thread. And this track also features some of Kim Vogels best vocals to be heard throughout “Native,” leaving it up there with every track within this great release.
SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/kimvogels
Scott Prinzing
Score: 5/5
