Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
There comes a time when we must move away from the childhood possessions and the thought of separation of voice and consequence as being two distinctive entities, we must do this in order to grow, to oblige the commitment shown to the series of assumptions and half formed ideas that we have had, and truly embrace the world with our own name and our own right of expression.
To deny this is to stay forever trapped in some clouded world, declaring that you are ready to shoulder the responsibility and fortune that may come with it, but never quite understanding that your words mean nothing unless you embrace them fully, that you own them, profess in the Outro, the conclusion of childhood, that all is yours to possess.
It is in such consideration that Emilie Khan searches beyond her past musical insights and comes out fighting with her opinions, music and insight formed with a great sense of maturity and experience; the intro to her previous songs and the remorseful sound of youth leaving as it must, and the fresh take on life brought into view. It is a view that resonates across tracks such as Island, Three, Aquarium, Never Good Enough and Seeking.
We forget the pain of when we realise that we must leave the youth behind, our heart soars at what the world will show us as we move, hopefully seamlessly, from childhood to the realm of giants, yet the mind clings on, the heart may feel the odd pull and twang of nostalgia, but the mind is full of memories of loss, of love, of black and white starkness and the colourful beauty to which we retain and fight to keep alive.
Outro not only marks the depth of change to which Ms. Kahn has embraced, it is mindful of what is being left behind, the misplaced emotion has been replaced with recognition and the sting of forbearance.
The youth feel passion as much as the old remember how it felt, what stands between these two states of mind is the ability to deal with the consequence of the memory and to celebrate it with renewed heart; Outro is a reminder that whilst we all go through this, some will feel the pain with such an expression of love that it is so beautifully destructive and rebuilt with mercy.
*Emilie Kahn releases Outro on February 22nd via Secret City Records.
Ian D. Hall