CD Reviews: Kimbra

With Grammys and global ubiquity, Kimbra Johnson can afford to indulge in a spot of stylistic schizophrenia for her sophomore release.

The Golden Echo picks up where Vows left off, with her supple jazz phrasing belying any second-album jitters; the music is just as agile, full of tonal shifts and jittery genre-jumping.

Her dalliances with Janelle Monae are obvious in the Technicolor swirl of 90s Music and Madhouse's distillation of Prince's entire back catalogue, while an impressive array of guests (including Matt Bellamy, John Legend and veteran composer Van Dyke Parks) enhances the glamorous sonic collisions.

•  Kimbra. The Golden Echo. Warner Music.

  Four stars (out of five)

Single download: 90s Music
For those who like: Janelle Monae, tUnE-yArDs, St. Vincent - John Hayden

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