KT Tunstall Review

KT Tunstall’s fourth major album, “Invisible Empire//Crescent Moon” comes after a period of change in Tunstall’s life during which she experienced the death of her father and the dissolution of her ten-year marriage. Inspired in part by these events, Tunstall has created a lyrical, evocative and thoughtful album that weaves together elements of folk-rock, blues, and country music. An emotional mix of vulnerability and forward-thinking strength is alluded to throughout the album but is especially present on tracks such as “Made of Glass,” “Carried,” and “Feel it All.” “Invisible Empire,” the first of the two title tracks, begins the album at a jaunty walking pace with KT Tunstall’s smooth alto voice singing of risk and survival over a shuffling guitar and drum accompaniment. “Crescent Moon,” by contrast, is more meditative and spare, beginning with the lines, “I’m a crescent moon/Looking for a place to lay my head and settle in,” and going on to explore lonely spaces and desert imagery. Other standout tracks on the album include “Yellow Flower” for its poetic and heartfelt lyrics held aloft by its simple but effective keyboard accompaniment, and “Hallowed Ground” for its gritty, irreverent, foot-stomping, bluesy spirit. Only a few tracks are patently forgettable, namely “Honeydew” and “No Better Shoulder.” “Crows,” an elegant commentary on death, and “The Boys of Summer,” her jubilant cover of Don Henley’s song of memory and love, make an excellent conclusion to the album. All in all, Tunstall has delivered another excellent album that is well worth a listen.