Dark Black – Kristina Train

In the cellar of the Arts Club in Mayfair, Kristina Train presented choice songs from her upcoming second album, Dark Black.

New York songwriter and musical collaborator, Kristina’s songs are expertly crafted, written around the soulful depths of her voice. Dream of Me is the A side of the current EP preluding the album, but Saturdaysmakes much more sense of her laid back restraint reminiscent of Dusty Springfield tones, which in a singer is always a good thing. A kind of elegant Blues, the lyrics are thoughtful and retrospective, and the voice pure and smooth.

Kristina Train has the looks of a statuesque goddess – a sort of merging of KD Lang and Demi Moore. Her stage presence is restrained to the point of disengagement, trusting the microphone to pick up nuance without having to project. As a recording artist, Kristina delivers, and cannot sing a note wrong. On stage, she is less of a storyteller than the best musical performers, almost as if she has sung these songs a million times before, and they have lost some meaning for her. Just listen; and it is all meaning.

Dark Black is the second album from Kristina Train, following on from 2009’s Spilt Milk on the Blue Note label. Now living in London and with a new label, Mercury, she is a distinctive voice on the musical scene – grown up, timeless and classy.

With the looks, the musicality, the background and the voice, Kristina Train seems like an unstoppable force of nature that is still holding back.

Verdict: •••

Eleanor MacFarlane

For further information click here. Black Train is released on Mercury Records on 29^th October 2012. EP currently available.