While we were in between shows on our recent January tour we popped along to the Old Granada Studios to record a live session for Low Four. We think it turned out pretty nicely. Take a look and a listen right here:
Posts Tagged ‘Kate Stables’
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Live from Old Granada Studios “
Posted: March 27, 2018 in MUSICTags: Kate Stables, This Is The Kit
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THIS IS THE KIT – ” Moonshine Freeze ” Best Albums Of 2017
Posted: October 5, 2017 in MUSICTags: Kate Stables, Moonshine Freeze, This Is The Kit
This Is The Kit, the nom de plume of Kate Stables, has been in existence since the 00s, when Kate moved to Bristol and started playing and collaborating with local musicians. It was here where her debut album Krulle Bol took shape, recorded and produced by PJ Harvey’s long-standing musical collaborator John Parish. Her second album, 2010’s Wriggle Out The Restless was made in France alongside members of Francois and the Atlas Mountains before final touches from TITK’s extended musical family were added in Bristol, Belgium and several points in between.
“The aim is to have fun playing with people whose work I really like,” says Kate in her simple and direct fashion. “The more you exchange and share with people the better things get and the more you learn.” This is the Kit has opened for artists such as The National, Jose Gonzales, and Iron & Wine and was selected by Sharon Van Etten as her “Favourite New Artist” in an interview .
After their three previous offerings, “Moonshine Freeze” is the peak of an uphill path that This Is the Kit’s Kate Stables has traced since her earliest recordings at the turn of the decade. Although this record features legendary producer John Parish (PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius) and The National’s Aaron Dessner (who produced TITK’s previous album, Bashed Out),
Stables’s impressive singing and highly mulled-over songwriting ensure that her creativity remains front and center. Pensive, banjo-driven delicacies like “Bulletproof” live comfortably alongside and sturdy grooves like “Hotter Colder.” With so many intricacies, even if you don’t immediately find a light in the relative dusk of Stables’s best album to date, consuming her songs in a near-frozen state of relaxation—perhaps even contemplation—might just do the trick. The rewards to be reaped from this listening experience are immense.
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Hotter Colder “
Posted: July 20, 2017 in MUSICTags: Kate Stables, Moonshine Freeze, Rough Trade Records, This Is The Kit
This Is The Kit released her fourth album Moonshine Freeze earlier this month and it’s a brilliant listen.
You can watch out the wonderful visuals for her song “Hotter Colder” off the new record, filmed at Warleigh weir near Bath.
“My thinking was coming from a very dark murky underwater place, and James’ thinking was more of a joyous fun approach,” Kate Stables explains. “For him “Hotter Colder” is a happy song so we ended up kind of meeting in the middle. Me and Rozi larking about, but on a rainy day in a murky river.
Taken from This Is The Kit’s album ‘Moonshine Freeze’, out now on Rough Trade Records
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Moonshine Freeze “
Posted: June 23, 2017 in MUSICTags: Kate Stables, Moonshine Freeze, Rough Trade Records, This Is The Kit
This Is The Kit – the musical project which holds exceptional Paris-via-Bristol songwriter Kate Stables close to its heart – have earned the adoration of peers including Guy Garvey, The National and Sharon van Etten. Their new album and Rough Trade debut, ‘Moonshine Freeze’, is undoubtedly their most compelling and accomplished to date. Produced by John Parish (PJ Harvey, M Ward, Perfume Genius), it began in the immediate wake of its predecessor, ‘Bashed Out’, when days after coming off tour last November, Stables and her band (Rozi Plain, Jamie Whitby-Coles, Neil Smith and Jesse D Vernon) headed into Geoff Barrow’s Invada studios in Bristol. Aaron Dessner of The National also features on six of the album tracks.
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Moonshine Freeze “
Posted: May 15, 2017 in MUSICTags: Kate Stables, Moonshine Freeze, Rough Trade Records, This Is The Kit
John Parish (PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius) produced the LP, which was recorded at Geoff Barrow’s Bristol studio Invada; The National’s Aaron Dessner contributes to six of the album’s tracks.
Moonshine Freeze is the follow up to 2015’s “Bashed Out” and sees Kate Stables & Co. making their Rough Trade debut.
“I’m not yet someone who says ‘I want this album to sound like an ’80s French nightclub’,” Stables says. “All I can do is write the songs and then step back from them and see what themes or patterns there are, then bring those patterns out so it’s a coherent piece of work, sonically and in terms of feeling.”
This Is The Kit have announced new record Moonshine Freeze and shared a new performance video of the lead single/title track.
The first 500 physical pre-orders from the Rough Trade webstore will also get a few bonus goodies – a This Is The Kit tea towel and a selection of postcards featuring Stables‘ pinhole camera photography.
Tracklist:
- Bullet Proof
- Hotter Colder
- Moonshine Freeze
- Easy On The Thieves
- All Written Out In Numbers
- Empty No Teeth
- Riddled With Ticks
- Two Pence Piece
- Show Me So
- By My Demon Eye
- Solid Grease
Moonshine Freeze is out 7 July via Rough Trade.
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Rusty And Got Dusty ” EP
Posted: December 5, 2015 in MUSICTags: Kate Stables, Rusty and Dusty EP, This Is The Kit
This Is The Kit is the musical project of Kate Stables and whoever joins her. You thought you didn’t like the banjo but you were wrong pal. Listen as Kate rips forward with her hypnotic twang pattern and a voice of rare, unaffected beauty.
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Pre-order of Rusty and Got Dusty EP. You get 2 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.releases 08th January 2016
THIS IS THE KIT – ” ‘Breathe All The Way In’ – a biographical portrait
Posted: September 7, 2015 in MUSICTags: Bashed Out, Kate Stables, Rozi Plain, This Is The Kit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKGj38zhfUA
Mark Richardson is a documentary filmmaker based in the city of Hull in the UK.
Alternative folk-rock band This Is The Kit stopped by the legendary New Adelphi Club in Hull – a venue that has seen the likes of Radiohead, Pulp, and Oasis grace its stage over the last 30 years . Titled Breathe All The Way In and directed by Mark Richardson, the documentary sees Kate Stables tell us about the origin of the band’s name and her influences.
This Is The Kit performed at Larmer Tree Gardens this last weekend with the faithful raising themselves from their slumbers, the wonderful folkies Kate Stables and Rozi Plain of This Is The Kit Plain, on banjo, was aided by her This Is The Kit pal Kate Stables who began with one of her own songs from new album “Bashed Out” before Plain gave the small audience a couple of tunes of her own.
This was an un-mic’d performance,which only added to the intimate feel.
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Silver John “
Posted: March 14, 2015 in MUSICTags: Bashed Out, Brassland Records, Kate Stables, This Is The Kit
“Silver John” is the first proper single from This Is The Kit’s forthcoming album “Bashed Out” produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner and due for release April 6 (UK/Europe) and April 7 (North America). Anticipation for the album continues to mount. Already omnipresent on the BBC 6 airwaves with only the title track released, they have been selling out tour dates on a UK pre-release jaunt,
Kate says of the track: “’Silver John’ talks about how we see things. The end of the work that we’re bringing about ourselves. Putting the blame on other forces. Being let down by people. The things we grab at in times of panic. It’s just mulling over the way of the human.”
This Is The Kit is the much beloved musical project of Kate Stables, born in England and based in Paris, though the heart of their musical community remains in Bristol, UK. “Bashed Out” is her band’s third album, the result of an extended period collaboration with the record’s producer Aaron Dessner (Sharon Van Etten, Local Natives). Dessner–the co-founder of the Brassland label–is best known for his work in The National and, indeed, the backing band he gathered for Bashed Out combines the talents of This Is The Kit’s touring members (Rozi Plain, Jesse Vernon, Jamie Whitby-Coles), alongside a number of session players drawn from the Brooklyn music scene: Bryce Dessner, Thomas Bartlett (Doveman, The Gloaming), Matt Barrick (The Walkmen) and Ben Lanz (Beirut, The National) all made key instrumental contributions.
As notable as the band, however, is front woman Kate Stables, whose voice hearkens back to the classic singer-songwriter era–her distinctive, cutting vocals up front in the mix. It’s a self-confidence gained since her previous album, 2011’s “Wriggle Out the Restless”, which made her band a minor institution in the United Kingdom, especially on the radio which has embraced the group.
On Bashed Out, the band continue their musical evolution into a synesthetic, shape-shifting entity—rooted in folk but encompassing elements of psychedelia, alternative rock, and electronic textures and sensibilities. they are a wonderful live band,
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Bashed Out “
Posted: February 18, 2015 in MUSICTags: Bashed Out, Folk Rock, Kate Stables, This Is The Kit, Winchester
This Is The Kit is the much beloved musical project of Kate Stables born in England and based in Paris. “Bashed Out” is her band’s third album, the result of an extended period collaboration with the record’s producer Aaron Dessner (Sharon Van Etten, Local Natives). Dessner- the co-founder of the Brassland label–is best known for his work in The National. Indeed, the backing band he gathered for “Bashed Out” combines the talents of This Is The Kit’s touring members (Rozi Plain, Jesse Vernon, Jamie Whitby-Coles), alongside a number of session players drawn from the Brooklyn music scene: Bryce Dessner, Thomas Bartlett (Doveman, The Gloaming), Matt Barrick (The Walkmen) and Ben Lanz (Beirut, The National) all made key instrumental contributions.
This music is honest, human and humane—a folky-lovely slow-rumble. It’s rock but of the hangover-friendly, stoner variety; it’s folk but at a groovy speed. As notable as the music, however, is front woman Kate Stables, whose voice hearkens back to the classic singersongwriter era–her distinctive, cutting vocals up front in the mix. It’s a self-confidence gained since her previous album, 2011’s Wriggle Out the Restless, which made her band a minor institution in the United Kingdom, especially on the radio which has embraced the group. This Is The Kit has received across the board support from BBC 6 DJs Lauren Laverne, Radcliffe & Maconie, Marc Riley, Cerys Matthews, and Mary Anne Hobbs– receiving further play from BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, Jen & Ally, and Phil Taggart. “Wonderful wonderful stuff,” said DJ and Elbow frontman Guy Garvey, This Is The Kit an “have been an essential fixture of British folk music for the past 10 years…one of a handful of truly innovate songwriters working with the British folk template today.”
In America, however, the band is just building up to their breakout moment. Bruce Warren, program director at influential American AAA station WXPN has praised Stables’ “warm and gorgeous voice” and we expect similar notices to come across on this new LP. From Kate’s earliest year growing up in the UK town of Winchester, she learned that great art takes time. “In some ways the place I grew up is defined by being a Roman Saxon medieval cathedral city,” she explains. “They started building the Winchester Cathedral a thousand years ago and they’ve been working on it ever since.” It’s an exciting moment to join This Is The Kit’s continuing musical evolution into a synesthetic, shape-shifting entity—rooted in folk but encompassing elements of psychedelia, alternative rock, and electronic textures and sensibilities.
THIS IS THE KIT – ” Bashed Out “
Posted: February 5, 2015 in MUSICTags: Bashed Out, Kate Stables, Rozi Plain, singer songwriter, This Is The Kit
Kate Stables has been recording music as This Is The Kit for years now, but this is probably one of the first times you’re reading about her. “Bashed Out” will be her third full-length album, and since Aaron Dessner and the National stumbled into one of her shows by happenstance and immediately fell for her sound, it will also likely be her breakout. The record is coming out via Dessner’s own Brassland label the title track “Bashed Out” digs into the mud, muck, and shit of life, Kate Stables sings and plays guitar, trumpet, percussion and banjo throughout the record, but you’ll especially notice the way she handles a banjo, turning an often hackneyed sound into a thing of delicacy. In some ways, it seems like successful artists have morphed into the only useful A&R forces, and if I could, I’d personally thank the Dessners for unearthing Stables. You might remember Sharon Van Etten also shouted out This Is The Kit a few years ago as her favorite new artist — Stables This Is The Kit has opened for Van Etten, Jose Gonzales, Jeffrey Lewis, Alexi Murdoch, Iron & Wine, and the National.
The Fat Angel Sings 