Kyle John Kenowski – Kyle John Kenowski
Kyle John Kenowski is an avid solo composer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His music blends classical music, psychedelia, folk-rock and pop. His debut, self-titled, is a fascinating start to Kenowski’s career, and is worth a listen for any fan of the brilliant artist’s work.
Fear Be Gone introduces the world to Kenowski’s auteuristic compositions, free-spirited voice and unfiltered emotion in a grand manner. While it may be lacking in production and confidence, Old Corridors stylistically follows with its charming instrumentals and child-like wonder. Field recordings give life to Get Some Sleep, though the vocal delivery is sadly frail, and doesn’t quite achieve what Kenowski was trying to accomplish. Deedle-eet is the most playful track, and resultingly one of the most enjoyable; Kenowski’s twangy guitar is mesmerising throughout. The biggest standout is Exploring the Mariana Trench, however, with its excellent spatial percussion and thoroughly enjoyable range of vocals. Things get weird from Meantime onwards, but not in a bad way; the instrumental expression is equally as charismatic as it is weird. Yes I Do is a super sweet ending to the album, and the preceding track, By My…., is emotionally absorbing and instrumentally gorgeous.
Not everything is equal in quality, though. The Lake is a little self-indulgent. When they’re incorporated, the midi drums are lacklustre in quality (not arrangement), but it’s to be expected in an amateurish album as such. Time has been kinder to the simpler compositions, such as Thought Eye Sore You, which soar due to their magnificent use of space and authentic subdue vocal delivery, but at times the amateurish production shows. Any fan of Kenowski’s work will easily be able to look their faults over, as Kenowski’s style is prevalent even in his earlier works.
Kyle John Kenowski’s self-titled is an excellently composed album that sadly lacks the proficient skills Kenowski developed in later years to bolster. It’s incredible to see how far Kenowski has come through the years, and while you may be better off starting with the magnificent Need Disease, his debut is still worth checking out.
Good
Listen to it here:
https://kylejohnkenowski.bandcamp.com/album/kyle-john-kenowski
Kyle John Kenowski – Kyle John Kenowski
