Sable - 'Kitchen Sink' - Album Review

Released on the 20th August, Kitchen Sink sees Sable - once Manchester based and now occupier of continental-creative-capital Berlin – explore the human state to the backing of glinting electronica. A well-constructed EP that shows that escaping the glare of a stalling music scene, where the only progression seems to be nostalgia, for the influences of a more diversified art scene seems to have paid dividends. The EP artwork perfectly compliments the tracks and is aesthetic enough for you to add the whole thing to your music library and impress your cool friends. If that’s encouragement enough to listen, then the lyrics in each track are thought-provoking enough for a thorough relistening afterwards.

Maggie:

The opening track is a straight-talking plea set to a bubbly dance-alone-in-your-bedroom melody that really establishes the theme of the EP. A relatively short but chirpy track that tackles the anxiety of being your honest self around loved ones whilst suggesting a positive side of being in this fragile and exposed state: ‘the painted face of happiness is better than being by yourself’.

Team:

Team follows on where Maggie left off. It’s a fruity electronic gem that flits between positive-tinted melancholia and dreamy gloom heard through a disintegrating snare and hollow kick which couple up with the unstable, spectre-like vocals of the artist and otherworldly backing vocals. The track ebbs and flows with a curious smoothness and poppiness that is somewhat contrasted by the refrain ‘did knowing ever really hurt me?’. A driving chorus and a breakdown to finish, this track might possibly be the catchiest on the EP.

I Miss Clubbing:

The third track on Kitchen Sink features positive melodic chimes that open the track and more playful vocals which helps distinguish the track as more positive than the previous two. The synth bassline has hints of techno about it and when accompanied with the percussive excursion that the track ends on, creates a grooviness that is uplifting and would almost not be out of place in a club. If that club was the chillest club on earth – and I be a regular there. This is definitely a personal favourite.

Up North:

The final track offers some sort of resolution to the EP. Not as upbeat as the previous track but with more resolve than the first two tracks, it has an almost childlike innocence feel to it, pronounced by airy melodies, that makes for smooth and comfortable listening. The track is laced with a yearning for simpler, younger times – something that anyone who has experienced human existence can whole-heartedly relate to. Up North captures this sentiment extraordinarily well.

Sable’s Kitchen Sink EP is a very well crafted, bubbly work of art. A really fun and uplifting listen that I can only encourage you to indulge in and I look forward to future projects by Sable. Colour me a fan.

-Archie Whittaker-