While many people's main exposure to Kimbra Johnson thus far is perhaps hearing her lend a vocal to Gotye on his recent mega-hit Somebody That I Used To Know, the truth is that she isn't new on the scene at all. Since relocating to Melbourne from her native New Zealand over three years ago, the 21-year-old has in fact been tirelessly working on the songs that have eventually formed her debut long-player.
Vows was recorded and produced by Kimbra – at home and in various studios – alongside Australian Urban export M-Phazes (Amerie, Pharoahe Monch) and François Tétaz (Bertie Blackman, Gotye). Musically, things jump from disco to soul to pop and dance via funk and jazz, while her powerful and impressive vocal is at times reminiscent of Nina Simone. Elsewhere, her voice has the playfulness of Björk or Camille. However, regardless of influences and comparisons, there is nothing even remotely derivative about Kimbra's sound. Rather, Vows is the joyous and ingenious melding of a whole host of genres and consequently the creation of something new and electrifying, helped in no small part by being tied together by some seriously bone-shaking beats.
If the brilliant disco belter Cameo Lover doesn't make you want to dance, there is clearly something wrong with you. On it, she sings “Open up your heart to me.” With fantastically written and produced music being delivered with the invention, heart and energy of this, it would be impossible not to comply with her demands. Simply, Vows is a soulful, textured, vibrant triumph of a debut which immediately establishes Kimbra as a unique and genuinely exciting new artist. Bravo.
Review by Bobby Townsend. It originally appeared in Sydney's Drum Media.
