Hailing from Cardiff, UK – Cate Le Bon’s sophomore LP ‘CYRK’ has just been released on the Control Group label, following on from her successful debut ‘Me Oh My’ back in 2009.

Le Bon’s voice has always been the tool that differentiates her from the rest of the pack, and ‘CYRK’ finds her in fine form. Probably most famous for singing backing on Neon Neon’s ‘I Lust U’ in 2008, Cate manages to sound more and more like Nico from the Velvet Underground every day, but somehow still manages to retain her Welsh lilt throughout the course of the album.

Opening track ‘Falcon Eyed’ sees Le Bon and her band banishing the low-key mood of her debut and striking out with a sixties-pop infused riff, topped with beautiful off-key vocal harmonies.

Comparisons to Nico can’t be dismissed, especially when slow-burners such as ‘Puts Me To Work’ and the waltzing ‘Julia’ are so reminiscent of the Velvets during their late 60s heyday.

The album is more suited to a live setting however, with some of the tunes not packing the same punch on record as they do on stage, but still ‘CYRK’ is a definite improvement on the debut and can no way be classed as a difficult second album; far from easy listening, but much less uneasy listening than in the past.

Ben Gallivan likes music and has done for all 34 of his years. That’s why he set up Ben Likes Music, a blog devoted to exactly that.

Please share your thoughts on this latest album

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