KAT – Journey to the heart (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

June 14, 2009 by Dennis Amith 

“Another solid EP from Kat McDowell. Overall, a consistent EP musically but I wish it had a bit more diversity in terms of music for each track.”

ARTIST: KAT

CD SINGLE: Journey to the heart

LABEL: binyl records

CATALOG #: AVCD-23787

DURATION: 20:58

RELEASE DATE:  March 25, 2009

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1. Apple of my eye
2. 翼をください
3. この場所で ～ Let’s start again (feat. PHATE)
4. Today
5. HOME ~Japanese ver.~

It has been nearly two years since I last reviewed Kat McDowell’s first mini-album KAT.  So much has happened with the artist from being an official artist of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), releasing two CD singles including a collaboration with m-flo’s VERBAL.

And lately, KAT has definitely been receiving worldwide attention as the vocalist has gone beyond what most music artist (in Japan) have done by establishing a social media presence and quite literally sharing her music to fans via YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

KAT returns with her second mini-album titled “Journey to the heart”.  One thing that caught my attention with her first mini-album was her vocals and her songwriting ability.
But along with her beautiful vocals and lyrics comes her ability to blend English and Japanese lyrics quite well.  The results are similar to the first mini-album but where “Kat” had a rock presence (having come off with a more rock sound with her first E.P., “Rock’n roll boys club”), this time around, “Journey to the Heart” has a more free flowing, mellow rock style.

The first track “Apple of my eye” features music and lyrics by KAT.  A safe, upbeat and safe track featuring Kat singing in Japanese and English with the majority of the track in English with repetition of lyrics.

The second track is an English play on the popular Japanese folk song “Tsubasa o Kudasai” (Please give me your wings).  The song starts off in English and then transitions into Kat singing the song in Japanese.

The third track is titled “Kono Machi de ~Let’s start again” featuring PHATE.  The track features music and lyrics by Kazuya Fukuda.  PHATE is a multicultural band in Japan that features a collaboration of non-Japanese artists producing music that combines alternative rock music with a taste of jazz.  Of all tracks on the mini-album, this track is featured almost all in Japanese and sung by both Kat and PHATE’s Kaleb (from Queens, NY).  A pretty solid duet!

The fourth track “Today” features is a ballad featuring words and music by KAT.  A mellow track about giving your love to the person you love today and always.

The fifth track is “HOME ~Japanese ver.~”.  The original English version was featured on her first mini-album “Kat” but this time is featured with Japanese lyrics.

As for the CD insert, the booklet features photos of Kat and the lyrics to the each track and a mini-flier for a promotion of “Beach Girls Collection Vol. 2 and a plug for a performance by Arisa, KAT and other artists.

Overall, “Journey to the heart” was a good mini-album and much more mellower than her past mini-album “Kat” and also compared to her past releases.  There is no hint of that Avril Lavigne rocker style but that’s not a bad thing.  If anything, I think she found her own style of music that she’s comfortable with and in a way, her music kind of reminds me of a Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz style and where acoustic guitar is the main instrument.

Also, for an artist in Japan, to do that kind of style makes her standout compared to the many female vocalist in the country.

She also continues the use of another folk song which was cool.  But if anything, with mini-album and single releases, I look forward to her upcoming full-length album in August.

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