Steve Peck writes: On the heels of an exciting new single, part two dives into the charm of Katherine Priddy’s second album and the bold, fierce energy of her latest project.
After the glory of her 2021 debut, The Eternal Rocks Beneath, the wait for new music from Katherine Priddy felt interminable.
Finally, in February 2024, her long-awaited second album, The Pendulum Swing, arrived. Widely praised by both press and fans, it further cemented Priddy’s place among the leading voices in contemporary folk.
Determined not to make the same record twice, Priddy shifted her focus on The Pendulum Swing from its predecessor’s panoramic vistas to the warmth of hearth and home.
Photo: Damien Hyde
The album’s first single, the evocative First House on the Left, fondly recalls her childhood home, which she returned to during the long days of lockdown. Two other tracks pay affectionate tribute to her father and twin brother.
Priddy also sings about lovers; some she misses, others she dreams about, yearning for a connection that’s hard to sustain on the road.
My favorites, A Boat on the River and Northern Sunrise, showcase her signature blend of poetic phrasing and fluid melodicism, becoming highlights of her live shows.
A Boat on the River is so dreamy. Sigh…
Selah, one of her earliest songs, harkens back to the sound of her debut. Overall, The Pendulum Swing leans toward a more conventional singer-songwriter style.
There’s no denying it’s a beautifully crafted record full of heartfelt emotion—though I find the full-bodied production occasionally diminishes the immediacy of her songwriting.
Photo: Katherine Priddy Facebook
Never one to sit still, Priddy released the exclusive Record Store Day album Live at Union Chapel earlier this year, documenting the final night of her 2024 spring tour.
The album is a treasure. Flanked by George Boomsma and Henry Hausing Smith, it showcases the stripped-back, almost unplugged quality of her live performances, where the music breathes organically, offering a refreshing counterpoint to her studio work.
Unfortunately, the limited vinyl release was only available on Record Store Day. I paid a handsome sum online to have a copy shipped to my home in the US, and it was worth every penny.
My dream pairing: KP with Johnny Flynn. Photo: Katherine Priddy Facebook
Priddy also delighted fans with another series of collaborative singles. She teamed up separately with Richard Walters and Johnny Flynn, and co-wrote two winter-themed songs with Great Britain’s poet laureate, Simon Armitage, whose words she set to music.
Daybreaker celebrates spring’s arrival, sweeping away the lingering chill and darkness of the winter months.
Ever fond of a well-timed surprise, Priddy lit up her fan base this past week with the unexpected release of another single and video, coinciding with the announcement of a forthcoming album and headline tour.
The new single, Matches, points to a darker, edgier direction. She says:
“The third album felt to me like a chance to be bolder, push out and try something new.”
“[ Matches ] is inspired by a rabbit hole I went down about the language we use when referencing the witch hunts and the witch trials, which still tends to focus on the burning of ‘witches’. Really, it wasn’t witches they were hunting down and accusing and killing, it was women (in the majority of cases), killed for all sorts of reasons and false accusations.”
New sonic textures and striking videography accentuate Priddy’s theme, propelling the listener into the fiery night. Think Katherine Priddy meets Radiohead and Lankum.
Matches is purposefully disquieting, yet beneath its surface lies the real magic: a vibrant folk song paired with a message that remains strikingly relevant.
Listeners accustomed to traditional acoustic settings may need to step outside their comfort zone to fully embrace this powerful feminist anthem. Even as someone who enjoys edgy, experimental production, it still took me a few listens to shed my own preconceptions of her earlier work.
Priddy has said that what makes her proudest about the new album is that “each song has its own distinct sound that suits the song,” each with its own personality rather than a uniform style. Matches certainly bears that out, hinting at an album full of rich, musical colors.
To say I’m excited is an understatement.
Her full manifesto, These Frightening Machines, arrives March 6, with her headline UK tour kicking off April 16. To pre-order the new record and check out the tour dates, visit her website at https://www.katherinepriddy.co.uk/.
The album cover to These Frightening Machines
Katherine Priddy is a talent that doesn’t come around every day. She’s already evolved as an artist, never resting on her laurels. This bodes well for a long and intriguing journey. I for one look forward to further forays into uncharted territory, and her graceful flight back home.
Steve Peck also writes at his Facebook music blog Hickory Notes.
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