The strong sense of urgency surrounding the band, and the honest, yet ambitious sound of the album was convincing and quite unexpected, coming from a first-time act. The album earned the Danish band rave reviews, as well as a prestigious spot on the Roskilde festival’s legendary main stage.
For their next album Kitty Wu teamed up with renowned producer Rob Ellis, known for his many years of collaboration with PJ Harvey. Ellis would prove to be a key character in the band’s storyline, and helped shape and sharpen the sound and identity of Kitty Wu.
With “The Rules of Transportation”(2003) Kitty Wu grew into their own and perfected their specific brand of poetic and alternative rock. The album also saw Robert Lund gaining a position as a deeply fascinating singer and songwriter.
Ellis returned to produce “Knives and Daggers”(2005), a detached diary of city living and the chilling culmination of Kitty Wu’s foray into dark minimalism.
Both albums were critically acclaimed and gave the band a loyal underground following, helped by a reputation as an exiting live act, earned through touring - both headlining as well as supporting acts like Brendan Benson and Muse.
Now Kitty Wu is back with “Someone Was Here”, an album that bares witness to the many changes that has taken place inside the band - changes that have pushed Kitty Wu into new sonic territory and created a hectic energy within their sound.
Since releasing their last album, Kitty Wu have parted ways with bass player Samuel Helles (who left for family reasons). The departure of Helles initially sent shockwaves through the tightly knit unit, but when the dust settled, they found that being forced to rethink the band, allowed them a new freedom which created a massive sense of electricity throughout the process.
“Someone Was Here” is the sound of conflict. Noise driven guitars and beatstructures are in a constant clash with Robert Lund’s atmospheric and ghostly vocals. This intentional fight creates a nervous, driven energy and a truly hypnotic soundscape, underlining the abstract and poetic lyrics about loss and departure.
Most of the self-produced album was recorded at Studio R, a converted warehouse in the industrial part of Copenhagen. Lund subsequently laid down the complex and evocative vocal arrangements by himself, during nightly sessions in the band’s own studio, Chapter 11. The vocals, which are a defining element of “Someone Was Here”, also draws a crooked line to some of the unorthodox influences behind the album - among them Simon and Garfunkel’s classic “Bookends”.
The album was mixed in London by Guy Fixsen (My Bloody Valentine, Breeders, etc).
“Someone Was Here” is Kitty Wu at their best and most ambitious, and places them at the forefront of a thriving and exciting Danish music movement. “Someone Was Here” is handled in Denmark by A:larm Music, whose roster includes Danish acts like Mew, Efterklang and Sune Wagner of Raveonettes.
The album is available on cd / limited vinyl / download
Kitty Wu is:
Robert Lund – Vocals/Guitars Allan Schøneberg – Bass Claus Bergmann – Drums
Threetwentyone
Kitty Wu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking in a straight line
No hard rights for you
My lover
Heard me come in though I didn't
Make a sound
Turning over but the wrong way around
Planes stuck together
Like a secret that we don't keep
Pick a number any number
Tell me something I don't know
Pick a number any number
Any number
Bending over resting for a little while
There's a hairline crack in every smile
Go and take cover
Hide with your mother
From the secret that we don't keep
The secret that we don't keep
Pick a number any number
Tell me something I don't know
Pick a number any number
Any number
Walking in a straight line
Walking in a straight line
No hard rights for you
My lover
The song "Threetwentyone" by Kitty Wu tells a story of a complicated love affair that is bound by secrets and weaknesses. The song begins with the repetition of "Walking in a straight line", which can be perceived as the singer's attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the chaos in her love life. The line "No hard rights for you, my lover" suggests that her actions are mainly governed by her partner's wishes and desires, and that she is willing to give in to him even if it means sacrificing her own desires.
In the following lines, the singer talks about how her partner can sense her presence even if she does not make a sound, implying a deep connection between them. However, the phrase "turning over but the wrong way around" suggests that things are not as smooth as they seem, and there might be a sense of confusion or disorientation in the relationship. The lines "Like stains on the weather, planes stuck together" and "There's a hairline crack in every smile" hint at the underlying tension and unease in the relationship.
The chorus, "Pick a number any number, tell me something I don't know" emphasizes the secrets that are being kept, indicating a lack of transparency and trust in the relationship. The lines "Go and take cover, hide with your mother from the secret that we don't keep" further suggest a sense of fear and insecurity that pervades the relationship. The song ends with the repetition of the opening lines, highlighting a cyclical pattern in the singer's attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy in her love life, even though things are far from perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking in a straight line
We're moving forward with a definite plan and direction
Walking in a straight line
Continuing on our path without straying
No hard rights for you
We won't be taking any unexpected turns or changes of direction
My lover
The person we're with adds significance and meaning to our journey
Heard me come in though I didn't
Despite trying to be quiet, the other person was still aware of our presence
Make a sound
We were being especially careful not to be heard
Turning over but the wrong way around
The other person was disoriented or confused
Like stains on the weather
Negative experiences or emotions cast a shadow over everything
Planes stuck together
Two people or things are bound together, for better or worse
Like a secret that we don't keep
We're trying to hide something that's increasingly difficult to conceal
Pick a number any number
We're open to hearing or discovering something new
Tell me something I don't know
We're hoping for fresh insights or revelations
Bending over resting for a little while
We're taking a break or moment of respite
There's a hairline crack in every smile
Even when we seem happy, there's still an underlying vulnerability or issue
Go and take cover
We need to protect ourselves from something negative or potentially harmful
Hide with your mother
We're looking for safety or solace in someone close to us
The secret that we don't keep
We're struggling with something that we can't or won't talk about
Pick a number any number
We're seeking anything that can provide insight or meaning
Tell me something I don't know
We're trying to gain a fresh perspective or understanding
Walking in a straight line
Despite the obstacles or difficulties, we're staying focused
Walking in a straight line
Our path ahead is clear and determined
No hard rights for you
There's no room for deviation or distraction, we're staying the course
My lover
The person we're with is essential to our journey, and we're committed to them
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.