SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KITBA – KITBA

KITBA
KITBA
RUINATION RECORD CO.

Behind Kitba’s moniker and her self-titled debut album is New York’s singer-songwriter and harpist Rebecca Kitba Bryson El-Saleh. As a part of Brooklyn’s musical hub, Kitba has already cooperated with quite a number of other artists located there, feeling that right now is the right time to step out on her own.

And it just might be a right decision, as she takes two steps forward from the standard singer-songwriter concept here.

Harp is not exactly a standard singer-songwriter instrument, but Kitba uses it here more as a tone-setter than a dominant instrument. Yet what does dominate is her excellent compositional and arrangement sense and her distinctive vocals. Those three elements create a sort of very modern baroque pop that evolves slowly to present all of its complexity and beauty.

As far as debuts go, probably one of the best of this year.

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