Staff Reviews

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Smoking in Heaven

Review by Alex Yau

A still novel and mostly welcome dive into an often ignored and overlooked era.»

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highly talented sibling trio follow up their hugely successful debut album with a brand new long player 'smoking in heaven'. while the band's influences are firmly rooted in the past, the songs that boast stylings of r&b, soul, ska, pop and jazz, adding another dimension to their unique style and sound. kitty daisy and lewis have now grabbed the musical bull by the horns, producing an exquisite and exciting self-penned second studio album 'smoking in heaven'; a breath of fresh air in a somewhat predictable music scene. this album takes the solid roots of their first album but then pushes the boundaries taking in the best of musical influences while still keeping that elusive kitty daisy and lewis treatment that is just beyond words. the music is difficult to categorise - there are recognisable genres but then there are surprising juxtapositions and references that elude and challenge the senses. check wah wah pedals, hammond organs, harps? this is music to be listened to and enjoyed and dug deeper into on every listen. their song writing and arrangements are delicious pieces of penmanship and seem to defy gravity by lifting the spirit. 'smoking in heaven' also contains several extended improvised instrumentals - a bold move in the desert of so called pop based fodder. jamaican ska legends eddie 'tan tan' thornton and rico rodriquez make guest appearances. like their highly acclaimed and successful first album 'kitty daisy and lewis', the production and recording have been done in their vintage studio at home, using ribbon microphones and analogue tape formats without the harsh digital interference of computers.
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