KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree

Subject: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: harpmolly
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 12:54 AM

I wasn't sure what heading to put this under, but since she's using technology to its absolute best advantage, I thought that would do. But I'm about to rave and rave and rave, so it probably should have been "Review". ;)

I stumbled across this AMAZING Scottish singer last night. Her style is not "Celtic" at all--she's classified as pop, but I wouldn't necessarily put her there. Anyway, this song, though very modern and gritty--more soul/R&B than anything, IMHO--almost sounds like it could have been inspired by a Child ballad.

Well my heart knows me better than I know myself
So I'm gonna let it do all the talking.
I came across a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.

I felt a little fear, upon my back
I said don't look back, just keep on walking.
When the big black horse that looked this way,
Said hey lady, will you marry me?


Anyway, I was totally drawn to the song from the start--great vocals, the kind of guitar strumming that gets you right in the gut, and great acoustic percussion. Upon further searching, I found a video of her performing live on Conan O'Brien. She was all by her lonesome with a guitar, a tambourine, and an effects pedal, which she used to first set up and digitally sample (while still maintaining the integrity of the song) percussive muted strumming, hand-clapping, and (!!!) two-part harmony with herself. She then proceeded to strum and sing the hell out of the song. Both Conan and I were blown away. ;)

So, I simply had to share this. Here are the links to both the live performance and the music video (which is about as sexy and stylish as they come--she gets to play ALL the instruments! :))

Live performance (Conan O'Brien)

Music video

Enjoy! (Sorry about the lack of folk content. I figured the comment about Child ballads would get me off the hook. ;)

Molly

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: harpmolly
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 12:58 AM

P.S. I guess I also just wanted to say that it's refreshing to see someone so incredibly musically versatile, who writes her own songs and plays ALL the instruments (well!). It's a far cry from the prepackaged pop stars of the world who couldn't write a lyric to save their lives (AFAIK) and whose song list is mandated by Coca-Cola.

/soapbox

;)

M

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 01:07 AM

KT has been huge in the UK since "breaking" on the Later with Jools Holland show with her loops pedal. She now has a second album out which is (I believe) mostly acoustic.

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:59 AM

Hi Molly.
KT has been around for many years, struggling to get known.
I first encountered her for a BBC showcase a couple of years ago.
A sort of rolling day long concert for lots of unsigned people (mainly acoustic duos and trios).
Last spot of the day (on my list) said KT Tunstall Voc and Acc guitar.
When she arrived and took the pedal board out of the plastic bag, I thought.....Wooah! What's all this about! (point of interest, on the TV clip, it looks very much like the same pedal board!)
Have worked with her a couple of times since, and she is just as nice and level headed now, as she was then.
Any fame is thouroughly deserved. This girl has definitely paid her dues.
Regards Ralphie (I hate my job sometimes!!)

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 03:02 AM

Oh and Molly.
Don't worry about the apparent "Non Folk" bit (whatever that means!!)
Talent is talent. Good luck to her, hope she makes it big in the US.
R

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 09:05 AM

My daughter turned me on to her music. She's FABULOUS! We got the album, and though the Cherry Tree song is still great, the others are just as fresh, and new, and fun to listen to.

Enjoy!

Dani

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: Stu
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 09:48 AM

I got the album the Christmas before last, and if you think the record is good, go to see her live. The songs are far better live than on record, many being longer for a start.

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: Nick
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 11:55 AM

I keep encouraging my wife to sing Suddenly I See, which is great fun to play. It has a great reaction from a wide range of ages whenever we've launched into it. The middle bit is hard to sing convincingly (the sort of spoken bit) but we'll get there - I just enjoying belting it out on my guitar or playing bass with it

looking forward to listening to her next album

Subject: RE: Tech: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 12:01 PM

immaginative creative use of new music technology = GOOD

uninformed resentment & prejudiced fear and hostility of new musicians tools = YOUR LOSS luddite tossers !

yeah.. techno-wassail olde English electric rebel music kicks arse !!!!!

..as us young middle-aged people seem to say..??

me & mrs wanted to see KT at a small gig in Bridgwater Somerset before she broke big
but we was stuffed due to miserable lack of decent provincial public transport system..

and errrmmm.. because neither of us ever learnt to drive those vile destructive deadly modern 20th century combustion engine technology
4 wheel vehicle contraptions !!??

..and i cant cycle that far with my old knees & ankles..

Subject: RE: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 08:42 PM

She has also gotten a boost in the public by Katherine McPhee performing this song on American Idol. Twice.

Subject: RE: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: harpmolly
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 11:21 PM

GUEST, I just heard that today. But I'll try not to hold it against her. ;) It's not her fault if her lovely song has been sullied by contact with the Show that Heralds the End of Civilization As We Know It. ;)

M

Subject: RE: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: Genie
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 01:44 AM

LOL, harpmolly!

Subject: RE: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: Stu
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 04:16 AM

Too right about Americal Idol and all that bilge.

BTW, punkfolkrocker, the Luddites were a group of ordinary citizens who didn't object to, fear or resent the new technology but rather recognised the mechanisation of jobs previously done by hand along with the introduction of mass production this would bring and the would lead to an inferior product going to the market (There were economic factors involved too - they objected to the introduction of the free market). And how right they were.

Subject: RE: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 11:46 AM

..of course i'm using that word correctly

in its common everyday modern misappropriated 'incorrect' application !

f'rinstance..

http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/luddite.html

..anyway, i'm not a cultural historian..
just a bloke with a very loud electric guitar and bass & drum synths
enjoying sunny summery cheddar cheese and cider pub lunches....

within comfortable staggering distance of my front door..

oh the damage and abuse i can happily inflict on trad folksongs
when i turn on the electricity.

BTW best wishes to KT for a long & succesful lifetime career;
hope she influences more young folk performers
who might otherwise follow the path of insipid polite musical conservatism

Subject: RE: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: harpmolly
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 10:38 PM

Or should that be the Show that Dare Not Speak Its Name?

(oh, if only that were true...it's more like the Show That Won't !@#@$%!! Shut Up About Itself.)

Molly

Subject: RE: KT Tunstall - Black Horse & Cherry Tree
From: Grab
Date: 08 Jun 06 - 03:51 AM

I love "Black horse and cherry tree", but her other singles have left me kind of flat - there was nothing with the same drive or imagination as that one. So I'm currently resisting getting the album.

But yes, she has made it pretty big in the UK. And unlike Joss Stone or Kate Melua who are just pretty faces, she does seem to have the natural talent to take it further. I'm looking forward to her next album to see what she does when she's not on a shoestring budget and she's got a bit more experience.

Graham.