Kinny - Idle Forest of Chit Chat

Kinny : Idle Forest of Chit Chat
Tru Thoughts Recordings
[2009]

5.8/10

I'm a huge soul and funk junkie. Unlike some other stuck-up assholes, I'm soaking up the shine of the "soul revival" that has been going on for the last decade, and have stood behind a lot of releases that some of my colleagues here would consider guilty pleasures at best.

One of the biggest complaint in regards to modern soul is that it's nothing but a throwback and nonstop rehashing, and while I think this criticism is tossed around willy-nilly in place of any actual analysis or discussion of works most of the time, there are times where it is valid-unfortunately for Kinny, this can be said for Idle Forest of Chit Chat. Kinny seems fully preoccupied with maintaining an air of classy, stereotypical soul lounge singer throughout, which fits in some places. In other places it creates a mind-boggling disconnect between the woman fronting the band with a reserved, conservative posture while the band is laying down some amazingly fluid jams. It is criminal how she is able to kill a groove as solid as the one found on "Queen of Boredness" with her (fittingly) lazy, disinterested speak-singing. Many other vocalists and even some rappers would kill for a chance to work with such a simple, infectious backdrop, but Kinny croaks "sorry I'm not interested, sweet tune," and boy does it sound like it. This is just one case of an unfortunate pitfall the album falls into numerous times. Occasionally she can let loose and mesh with the music rather than restrain it: she can stretch herself loose enough to make "Back Street Lust" sound appropriately lustful and determined.

Kinny shows us she and her crew have what it takes to make and channel some good soul and funk, I'm just anxious to see if they are able to polish themselves off and go for the gold next time around. There is enough going on for soul enthusiasts to check out and make a call for themselves, and if you can get around the kill-joy that is Kinny's vocal preoccupations, any listener will hear some economic and potent groove-work, which is worth the stretch.

-Unkie Clamz