Lorenzo Cano is a content writer for KCPR. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
The KCPR studio walls are filled ceiling to floor with a record collection that dates back to the station’s inception in the late-1960’s. As an exploration of the history layered within these pieces of physical media, join KCPR’s Dylan Koch (DJ Dylanesque) and Lorenzo Cano (DJ White Sauce Pagan Baby) for a weekly dive into the lesser-travelled corners of the KCPR’s vast record collection!
This week’s review: Tracey Thorn, “A Distant Shore”
Tracey Thorn, of “Everything But The Girl,” pursued her pioneer solo album “A Distant Shore,” in 1982.
At this point, Thorn and fellow band member Ben Watt had only one release together, a small single released earlier that year that served as an introduction to how well the duo works.
What initially was supposed to be a one-off performance gave way to the prolific duo that headlined genre-bending electronic shows for the considerable future.
“A Distant Shore” delivers a series of haunting melodies cascading through its eight-tracks. Contrary to the sound of Thorn’s band, she presents a more melancholic version of herself, stripped back and reliant on her beautiful vocal performance and acoustic guitar to carry her way through.
Upon first listen, I was on the bus on the way to class, and I nearly cried three times across the 23-minute runtime. Thorn’s lyricism is dark and gritty, exposing heartbreak, relationship conflict and a distinct sense of apathy that arises. With the assistance of the calm instrumental, her voice is front and center.
Standout tracks to me are “Small Town Girl,” the first track on the album speaking on the derealization that comes from experiencing heartbreak and unfamiliar relationships, and “Femme Fatale” for its impressive vocal layering that is distinct from the rest of the album.
Overall, Thorn delivers a digestible 23-minute record, that is not too joyous, but it isn’t trying to be. This is a young Thorn, on the outset of her illustrious career displaying her songwriting ability and delivery of emotion across an album that strikes a chord with melancholic listeners.
