Kira – Run Where No One Goes

Unexplored Territory

Kira is bringing sexy back, and no, not the way Justin Timberlake did.  She is making her US debut with the EP Run Where No One Goes. This album has slow grooves combined with sultry and seductive vocals that set a dark and longing mood.

Hailing from Denmark, Kira is well known in her homeland since winning a Danish grammy in the “Best Female Vocalist” category. After giving her a listen, her vocal talent is easy to hear: Kira’s smooth portamento gently glides between notes with a strong, fluttering vibrato like the mating call of an exotic bird.

Run Where No One Goes is a very smooth and spooky-sexy album that sounds like a raspy-voiced Portishead or PJ Harvey. It has a stripped-down sound with minimal percussion while the lack of a full backing band allows the listener to concentrate on the vocal melodies and instrumentation.

The first two tracks of the album are standouts. The first one, “Hard Rain,” showcases Kira’s haunting vocals which are reminiscent of Annie Lennox. Kira has a shimmering vibrato on the second standout, “Riders of the Freeway.” It has a 1960s retro feel and features a Byrds-like 12-string guitar but sounds darker than any Byrds song. Acoustic finger picking adds an earthy and rustic feel in “Saving Me.”  Flowing acoustic guitar chords accompany the ballad “Losing You” while symphonic strings enhance the emotional impact.

Overall, Kira’s EP is very well put together in its simplified, dark beauty. Everything about this album flows like a river into the sea of sultry. Her soulful vocals will no doubt ignite a US following.