October 5th saw KT releasing her Tiger Suit upon the world. The Fife singer’s 3rd LP (if you aren’t counting KT Tunstall’s Acoustic Extravaganza) has a lot of weight to bear: can Tunstall maintain the critical momentum that began with Eye to the Telescope and that she held on to with Drastic Fantastic, even if her 2nd record didn’t find favour with every reviewer?

I’ve got to say I’m not party to those more negative assessments of Drastic Fantastic, although even KT seems to be distancing herself from it (she “couldn’t get the spade out” to finesse it, apparently). While Drastic Fantastic did seem to rely pretty heavily on older material – much of which had been doing the rounds on pre-label self releases such as Tracks in July and some of her promo stuff – I’ve got say that I was largely happy with the record. And I still am, even if I remain convinced that the definitive version of “If Only” is that which appeared on the Toons March ’03 demo.

Tunstall describes her approach to the music on Tiger Suit as “nature techno”, blending organic instrumention with “electronic, dance-friendly textures”. Certainly, the calls and whistles that support  opening tracks “Uummannaq Song” and “Glamour Puss” blend the more traditional aspects of Tunstall’s first LP with the splashier stylings of Drastic Fantastic. And while a track like “Lost” is more downbeat than much of the record, it grabs with a heavy synth and Tunstall’s vocals seem to be on the point of being lost into the song itself. Then there’s the getting on for ethereal quality of “(Still A) Weirdo”, too, which launches us into the heavy drums and distortion of “Madame Trudeaux”.

In addition to KT’s unique voice, one thing that I really appreciate is Tunstall’s ability to put her pop sensibility together with a desire to try different arrangements, along with a keen ear for a simple, hook-laden song. None of this has been subsumed by what must have been a temptation to play to the crowd who loved her for principally for “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”. Aside from the fact that record was an admittedly impressive expression of Tunstall’s multi-talentedness, “Black Horse”‘s rootsy folkiness was never the centre of Tunstall’s talent, although its something that can certainly heard at the basis of songs like “Golden Frames” and “Come On, Get In”; and in “Fade Like a Shadow” even as that song explodes into its fast paced, poppy refrain with its xylophone and acoustic guitars. As that song goes, she’s chosen her weapon; and I think she’s chosen wisely.

MP3: KT Tunstall, “If Only” (Toons March ’03 Demo)

MP3: KT Tunstall, “Miniature Disasters” (Live at Viva Mexico, Edinburgh, 13th December 2004)

TUNSTALL TOUR DATES

Oct 31 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Nov 1 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Nov 2 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox SODO
Nov 4 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
Nov 5 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Nov 7 – Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
Nov 8 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
Nov 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box
Nov 12 – San Diego, CA@ House of Blues
Nov 16 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
Nov 18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Epic
Nov 19 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
Nov 21 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
Nov 22 – Detroit, MI @ The Crofoot
Nov 23 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre
Nov 25 – Montreal, QU @ Club Soda
Nov 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
Nov 27 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Nov 29 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
Dec 1 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5