Album Review: Kate Nash, Sad Symphonies

There’s no hidden meanings or subtext with the title of Kate Nash’s fifth album, 9 Sad Symphonies. The record does exactly what it says on the tin: there’s 10 songs and 9 of them, you guessed it, are sad.

The Londoner is probably best known for her 2007 hit ‘Foundations’, wherein she detailed a crumbling relationship with alluring, Lily Allen-like charm. However, this album finds her in decidedly more sombre mood. ‘Millions Of Heartbeats’ is a tattered welcome-mat of an opener, with the singer describing her struggle to adapt to adulthood.

“Am I a number or a person?” she poses. “I want a simple answer but I’m given another diversion.”

There’s similar existential angst evident on ‘Horsie’, with Nash painting the image of a thirty-something woman crying in a Home Depot car park and eating supermarket sushi alone. Each track is adorned with cinematic strings, whether it’s the sprightly plucking on ‘These Feelings’ or the haunting violins on ‘Ray’.

‘Space Odyssey 2001’ is the jovial outlier, making use of dark humour and capturing the awkward intricacies of falling in love. Overall, Nash’s frank and vulnerable ruminations make for an endearing listen.

Recommended song: ‘Space Odyssey 2001’

Rating: 7/10

Check out 9 Sad Symphonies below: