This album is part of the Diatribe Solo series, a collection of four albums by some of Ireland’s most interesting and innovative performers. The series features Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Cora Venus Lunny and Adrian Hart as well as Kate. The Solo Series Phase II aims to take a ‘wide lens portrait of Ireland’s new musical terrain’ and is more than five years in the making.

Kate is the artistic director of Crash Ensemble and has performed and collaborated with artists as wide ranging as Steve Reich, Gavin Bryars, Terry Riley, Iarla O Lionaird, Gavin Friday and Donnacha Dennehy. While Kate is well known in some circles, her music is unlikely to feature on heavy rotation on any of the national radio stations! You might find it on some of the late night spots though.

Kate’s album features solo Cello and electronics. The five songs vary between layered cello tracks to more experimental affairs, with burst of electronic sound and the quieter end of feedback. The songs sprawl, with the shortest piece over five minutes and the longest nearly twelve. Each piece is given time to develop, move and breath. Some are purely melodic and others are harsher, deliberately moving away from safe seas for choppy waters. There is a cinematic feel to them and they would work perfectly on a soundtrack. That is not to say that they are incidental, but that they are quite emotive and dramatic. Go explore below…

1. Sondas (N. Vallely) 10:26
2. Apophany (E. Bates) 08:09
3. Why Do You Smile? (L. Sheeran) 06:54
4. Jump (L. Buckley) 11:34
5. Aisling Gheal (Trad. Irish. A Setting by D. Dennehy) 05:35