Album Review: Nadine Shah – Kitchen Sink

Article originally written for Only A Northern One.

Nadine Shah’s fourth album, Kitchen Sink, powerfully encompasses the pressures

society places on women and circles catcalling, gaslighting and infantilisation; issues

which women endure daily. Throughout Kitchen Sink, the female characters who

drive the narrative often regain the power in a celebratory manner which is carried

with poignant and occasionally satirical lyrics, accompanied with upbeat tones and

vibrancy. Kitchen Sink may appear to fit a niche, but there is no doubt you will find

your own connection to it.

The album opens with ‘Club Cougar’, an instant bop. The song circles an unctuous

man who makes the false assumption that the protagonist is an older woman on the

prowl. In reality, they are the same age and the lavish music fits hand-in-hand with

her utter repulsion of him. The sultry score and animal howls combined with her

refusal to bite is an absolute vibe. 

‘Trad’ is the ultimate feminist anthem. The lyrics “Shave my legs / freeze my eggs”

are welcomed with an eerie instrumental. Shah sings about the pressures of an

ageing woman. The tempo and melodic structure follow Shah in her panicked race

against societies clock. 

‘Kite’ sits in the middle of the album, a bold tempo change from ‘Buckfast’ and

‘Kitchen Sink’. ‘Kite’ does as a kite should, it glides through your speakers and acts

as a moment of peace and reflection. The steady beat, high melodic trills and chimes

allow you to fall into an almost meditative state, subconsciously absorbing the true

meaning behind the lyrics in the previous songs. 

The penultimate track, ‘Walk’, follows the protagonist as she walks down a street,

facing the sexist reality we live in. With lyrics like “Running gauntlets / Swerving

perverts” and “Nasty surprise / More prying eyes”, Shah paints an all too familiar

picture for many. These lyrics jump over scatty percussion, emanating the feeling of

dodging people as you speed walk down a dark street. 

Kitchen Sink reflects a familiar world but through Shah’s eyes. A vision with a desire

to both entertain and unsettle the listener. With pulsing guitar strums, electronic trills

and unorthodox rhythmic patterns, Shah portrays a suspended reality. Revealing her

view of life, she exposes everything and the kitchen sink.