By Cathy Anderson

Music’s new chanteuse, Kimbra, has managed a very clever run-up to the release of her debut LP, Vows.
Teaming with Miami Horror for I Look To You was a good start, but the real genius was her No.1 hit with Goyte, Somebody That I Used To Know, which shall forever be known as the only single with the strength to rip Adele’s fingers from the top spot after 11 weeks.
From here, the native Kiwi’s music will need to stand on its own, but that won’t be a problem.
The full length follow-up to her Cameo Lover EP is a delightful delivery of understated vocal croonings, subtle layered percussion and jazzy rhythms.

At 21, Kimbra is young, pretty and peppy, but her music favours jaunty burlesque, cabaret and Bjork-style quirkiness, refreshingly eschewing the pop-tart mould.

Exploring the theme of love and commitment, the first half of Vows keeps up the pace.
Settle Down, with Kimbra’s impressively exposed, layered vocals, hand claps and tambourines, is a fitting opener, while the Duffy-esque Good Intent meshes ’60s shoo-wop with 1940s speakeasy finger snapping.
From here she invites the funk on Call Me and dabbles in soft synth pop on Cameo Lover.
There are plenty of tender moments too, including the breathy Withdraw and her cover of Nina Simone’s Plain Gold Ring.
Buying this album will be an easy commitment to make. (Warner)

This article originally appeared in mX newspaper