David Kitt released The Big Romance (KIttser's Version) on April 8 via All City's Alchival label. The original record, which has featured in a number of ‘greatest Irish albums’ lists, marks its 25th anniversary this year, having been released on June 18, 2001.
Following his home-recorded debut Small Moments, 2001’s The Big Romance marked Kittser’s first experience working in a professional studio.
“The bulk of the original album was recorded at Pulse Studios off Camden St. with producer Ken McHugh - owner of many of the synths and samplers and drum machines I dreamt of owning back then. It was such an exciting time to have access to this dream palette of sounds and Ken's skill and talent as a producer/programmer. I was bringing in records from underground electronica and hip hop as references for the sound I was going for and the results were a fusion of more traditional acoustic and electric instruments with electronic sounds and hip-hop flavours that was pretty fresh for the time. It felt like a distillation of all the things I was a fan of. It's a sound I feel I've been honing and crafting ever since.”
The record - featuring the singles 'Song From Hope St. (Brooklyn, NY)' and 'You Know What I Wanna Know' - sold 60,000 copies in Ireland alone and marked a major shift in Kitt’s life as a musician and performer.
Originally released on Warner Music, Kitt says: “The contract I signed back then means they own the rights to the album 'for the universe forever', apparently. Great! I approached them about a vinyl reissue for the 10th and 20th anniversaries and got nowhere. So, for the 25th anniversary, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make a version of the album that I own myself and I'm free to press on vinyl.”
The new release features all ten tracks of the original album along with three new tracks and b-side and fan favourite 'Saturdays' - all lovingly and faithfully remade in Ballinskelligs, at Kitt’s home studio, with the invaluable help of Ken McHugh and drawing on his 25 years’ experience of making records with synths and samplers.
“I feel I've landed on a document that has the sonic and emotional DNA of the original - and at times improves on it, a record that will be cherished by fans of the original and would get the seal of approval from my 25-year-old self.”
David Kitt will perform The Big Romance in full across two special shows at the National Concert Hall this week (Friday and Saturday, April 10-11), joined by an all-star band featuring Dylan Lynch, Rachael Lavelle, Katie Kim, Ryan Hargadon, Paul G. Smyth, Eamon Brady and Gareth Averill.
Buy The Big Romance (Kittser's Version): https://davidkitt.bandcamp.com/album/the-big-romance-kittsers-version
