Katie Spencer – Weather Beaten
Self Released – 1 March 2019
Any artist who receives a prominent and highly eloquent endorsement from Ralph McTell must be good – well, that’s what the author of the press sheet would have us believe… but as it turns out, that’s not at all an extravagant claim. It’s hard to believe that Weather Beaten is Katie Spencer’s debut full-length album, in fact, such is the intensely accomplished aura that pervades the record. The producer credit – Spencer Cozens – is another indicator of quality, for the sound is superb too, faithfully capturing the subtleties and nuances of Katie’s playing and the gentler shadings of her voice.
I guess you can best describe Katie as a contemporary folk singer-songwriter-guitarist, but that tag rather undersells her talent. Indeed, if I were reading that sentence, my reaction might well be that of a jaded, even somewhat cynical listener (ie. “believe it?”); but just a few bars of her intro to the opening track convinces me of her prowess as a guitarist even before she opens her mouth to sing. Sensitive, poetic and perfectly judged, and executed with a confidence and skill, and experience, that would seem to belie her 21 years.
Katie’s background is a tad sketchy. Bandcamp lists two earlier releases in the shape of a late-2016 four-track live EP (long sold out, I understand) and a 2017 five-track EP Good Morning Sky which was reviewed here on Folk Radio UK and from which a video was also premiered. Neither of those releases provide any duplication with the songs on Weather Beaten. We also know that Katie was awarded with the Yorkshire Gig Guide award for Outstanding Emerging Artist in 2018, and that she’s an inveterate touring animal, with an impressive tally of both support and headline gigs under her belt already. Her performance history includes supporting some major folk figures, which is how she came to encounter Mr. McTell (he even made her a present of some old strings just for luck!). Katie’s currently in the throes of a long tour, which extends right on into June.
Katie’s based in the East Riding of Yorkshire, near Hull, and lives within a mile or so of the sea; she evidently feels a specific spiritual connection with this landscape, hence the “weather-beaten” sepia-toned photography that graces the album sleeve. I can sense a kind of sepia-toned poetry too in the album’s impeccably turned, driftily atmospheric lone instrumental track Helsa (although I understand this was named after a place in Germany which Katie visited). Maybe I’m thinking of early Michael Chapman too on that one, but to my mind Katie’s playing generally feels to be more inspired by Bert Jansch, Roy Harper or John Martyn – although in no way derivative or copycat, for she takes the techniques and principles of these players and makes her own quietly ingenious musical statement through the notes and silences, making every note, phrase and musical punctuation mark count in a deft, elegant and intelligently undemonstrative fashion.
Katie also possesses the gift of meaningful self-accompaniment, her economic yet intricate playing style brilliantly matching the deceptive economy of her word-pictures that conceals deeper layers of thought-provoking commentary. The pithy four-line stanza of opening track Incense Skin is a masterly example of this, indeed. A parallel study of the lyrics provided in the booklet will help too, even though during the listening process Katie’s guitar playing doesn’t distract or divert the listener away from the texts. The lyrics tend to concern some aspect of love and relationships, but there’s no embarrassment in the declaration of feelings through her honest storytelling, and thus also no navel-gazing; one empathises, since often (as on the title song) the emotions are on the inside. The impact of love is perhaps most intensely expressed in the headlong rush of You Came Like A Hurricane and the detachment of the affair’s aftermath on Too High Alone, while The Best Thing About Leaving restores the perspective and brings the core emotion firmly back home again.
One aspect of the album which I was less sure about at first was the advertised presence of three guest musicians – Tom Mason (double bass), Miles Bould (congas, triangle) and Martin Winning (clarinet and flute), but their contributions are sparingly used and I was soon won over by their unassuming, simpatico embellishments that enhance rather than submerge Katie’s own musical personality. The possible exception to this might lie in the slightly fussy percussion patterns that adorn the disc’s non-original song, Spencer The Rover (no relation!!), on which Katie bestows a cool, almost Joni Mitchell-inflected treatment that plays around with the phrasing and eschews the usual melody.
Katie’s stylish blend of warmth and precision proves intensely captivating: I’d urge you to investigate her music soon!
Katie Spencer Tour Dates
FRI 8 MARCH – St Mary’s Creative Space, Chester
SAT 9 MARCH – The Remarkable Hare, Matlock
SUN 10 MARCH – The Burston Crown, Burston
SUN 17 MARCH – The Flying Circus, Newark
SUN 24 MARCH – The Bell and Crown, Goole
FRI 29 MARCH – FortyFive Vinyl Cafe, York
SAT 30 MARCH – Hepworth Village Hall, Holmfirth
SUN 31 MARCH – The Grayston Unity, Halifax
MON 1 APRIL – Chip N Ern Ale House, Bingley
FRI 12 APRIL – Old King’s Head, Belper
WED 17 APRIL – Oporto, Leeds
THU 18 APRIL – The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
THU 25 APRIL – Hyde Tavern, Winchester
FRI 26 APRIL – Julia’s Tea Rooms, Ely
SAT 27 APRIL – The Slaughtered Lamb, London
SAT 4 MAY – Filey Folk Festival 2019, Filey
SAT 11 MAY – Cafe #9, Sheffield
SUN 12 MAY – The Live Room @ Caroline Social Club, Shipley
FRI 17 MAY – Kardomah94, Hull
SAT 18 MAY – Queen’s Head, Belper
THU 30 MAY – Catshill Club, Bromsgrove
FRI 31 MAY – Wild Voice 2019, Northampton
FRI 31 MAY – SUN 2 JUNE – Something to Smile About 2019, Doncaster
SAT 1 JUNE – Something to Smile About 2019, Hatfield
FRI 7 JUNE – GATE TO SOUTHWELL FESTIVAL 2019, Nottingham
SAT 8 JUNE – Black Dyke Mills Heritage Venue, Bradford
SAT 22 JUNE – Beardy Folk Festival 2019, Cleobury Mortimer
SUN 23 JUNE – John Martyn Gathering 2019, Bedale
SAT 29 JUNE – Grassington Festival 2019, Grassington
SAT 6 JULY – Folk In A Field Festival 2019, Kings Lynn
SUN 7 JULY – Out To Play 2019, Ripon
SAT 20 JULY – Westgate Arcade, Halifax
https://katiespencerofficial.bandcamp.com/album/weather-beaten