Katell Keineg is one of my favourite singers whose debut album I still listen to regularly with affection. Here is the bio on her website:
"Since the early nineties Keineg has been musically active in both Ireland and the United States, steadily emerging into one of the most inspiring and deeply moving performers around. Born in Brittany and brought up in Wales, Keineg now lives in Dublin and is a frequent visitor to New York. In 1993, while building her reputation for "conveying a nearly beatific sense of joy in performance"(Los Angeles Times), she released a seven-inch single called "Hestia" on Bob Mould's SOL record label. That same year, Keineg sang on Iggy Pop's American Caesar album and when he passed her single on to Elektra Records, they signed her and released "O Seasons O Castles".
Her second album "Jet" followed in 1997, co-produced with Eric Drew Feldman whose work with Captain Beefheart and PJ Harvey provided the perfect stimuli for Keineg, who was beginning to venture off the over trodden singer-songwriter path in search of artistic pastures new. The record garnered a whole host of stunning reviews. During this period Keineg provided the second vocal on Natalie Merchant's American hit single "Carnival", a favour returned when Merchant recorded Keineg's "The Gulf Of Araby".
The past 10 years have seen Keineg build herself a formidable live reputation. Her live shows have become a regular feature on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2002 she released a 4 track EP of new songs that included "High July" opening track "What's The Only Thing Worse Than The End Of Time?" and a breathtaking live version of Nick Drake's haunting "River Man" recorded from a Drake tribute concert held at St Anne's Church in Brooklyn NY. In their review of the night The New York Times declared her "...a young songwriter due for her own cult, who travelled the fine edge between rapture and loss so essential to Mr Drake's art."
Following the release of a second E.P. (Shaking The Disease), Keineg released "High July", her third album, in late 2004 to further enthusiastic reviews. A re-recorded version of "On Yer Way" from that album was used on the soundtrack of Deborah Kampmeier's film "Virgin" starring Robin Wright Penn, also in 2004."
Katell Keineg - Beautiful Day
Katell Keineg - Love Song To My Guru
Katell Keineg - Pablo Quilla's Dream
This tracks are hosted on Katell Keineg's own artist website.
Katell has been busy working on new material during the last number of years. Fingers crossed for a new release in the new year. Below is the wonderful Glen Hansard speaking with passion about Katell a number of years ago on Other Voices for RTE TV.
Katell Keineg - Gulf of Araby
MySpace
14 Nov 2008 21:00 The Living Room New York
21 Nov 2008 21:00 The Living Room New York, New York
22 Nov 2008 20:00 Levon Helm’s Ramble Woodstock, New York
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