The second of two albums promised by Kathryn Williams during her 2004 tour to support her Relations covers long-player finds the singer/songwriter continue to follow her idiosyncratic path of a musical career. This is an artist who played her debut gig after a friend arranged a booking without Williams even knowing anything until the last minute. Kathryn hadn’t even recorded a CD at that time and considered the concert a one-off until she discovered herself being booked time and time again.

“Thanks to everyone who played on and helped to make this record and to my friends and family in Liverpool and Newcastle” writes Williams in the cover notes in pencil. Before dedicating this album to “Louis Kelso le Flohic, my baby who was with me, both in and out of my belly, during the making of this record, and Neil, his dad and my one true love. And to the memory of Keith Morris.” The pencil just strengthens the impression of KW as an organic, home-made type of performer.

I was lucky enough to hear Williams premiere ‘Hollow’ live. Incredibly, it sounds even stronger on record. Credit also perhaps to Laura Reid who plays cello, piano, and glockenspiel and sings backing vocals on this track.

An adopted Geordie, this fine art graduate has more in common with artists from the other side of the Atlantic. The sparse recordings by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy an obvious reference point. Although she has a soul sister in Oxfordshire-born Theo Gilmore.

Interviewed by legendary music journalist Gary Mulholland, Williams revealed: “In years to come, I’ll look back at the records I’ve made and not have any regrets about a man in a suit making me fit in with fashion. They’re small, sketchy pieces. I’m not trying to make Big Art.” A rebel with a cause, Williams sticks it to The Man big-style on Leave to Remain.
(4¼/5)