ALBUM REVIEW: KAT MACKENZIE’S “COCOON”
“When mackenzie sings about “salt in her blood”, you believe that the line was boiled down from experiences too numerous to mention in one song.“
For a debut EP, this one comes in strong, with all of the confidence of an artist with an extensive back catalog. Within five seconds of the opening song, the title track “Cocoon”, I was held at attention by Kat MacKenzie’s unique voice. The subtle vibrato and timbre once again made me think that she certainly had recorded at least a few albums.
Again, this is literally the first five seconds.
The intrigue deepened as Cocoon progressed. MacKenzie’s voice went from a smoky blues groove, to an almost broadway-level theatrical coo. The sharp, short ending of the track made me do something that I typically don’t do while doing a review: I started the track over and gave it another listen.
Usually while penning a review, I will write it while listening to a record for the first time. I feel like this best represents my initial reaction to the music, as opinions can form and change with every relisten. But, this song literally compelled me to listen again, not for the review’s sake, but for my own personal enjoyment.
It became obvious to me early on, that these were personal songs. The metaphors seemed to unmistakably come from a real place. When MacKenzie sings about “salt in her blood”, you believe that the line was boiled down from experiences too numerous to mention in one song. The music accompanying MacKenzie’s songs fits perfectly. The dynamic reach of the band is powerful enough to drive the songs, but subtle enough to let her voice shine through.
These songs would fit seamlessly into several genres and would stand out in most of them. There are elements of blues, metal, alternative rock, and even pop sensibilities. Cocoon has a great relistenability factor, and by the time you get to “Hair on Fire” the second or third time, you’ll be shouting along and also wishing that your crush on someone had been eaten by llamas.
That one will make sense when you listen to Cocoon, I promise.
This is a very impressive debut, and I look forward to hearing what Kat MacKenzie will put out next.
Produced by Frank Palangi, Cocoon is now available everywhere. Find it on your streaming service of choice by visiting https://katmackenziemusic.com/cocoon-ep
