Vyktoria Pratt Keating
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Evocative/eclectic
Status:
Most recent release, Errant Fairies & Murderous Maidens (live, 2011); most recent studio release, things that fall from the sky (2003)
See also:
Vyktoria Pratt Keating's site
Comparisons:
Kate Bush, Victoria Williams
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Very cool, very ecto stuff. Hard not to compare her to certain ectophilic goddesses. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)Kind of fairy folk pop. (I like the "Nanci Griffith meets Lost in Space" comment in her bio.) (neal)
Comments about live performance:
Opener Vyktoria Pratt Keating seemed promising. She's from VA, had a pleasant folky style and some clever tunes. Someone at the show told her she sounded just like October Project, which is a fine compliment, despite having absolutely no bearing on reality. (c. 1999, neal)
Recommended first album:
Any
Recordings:
- Blue Apples (1993, re-released 1996)
- This Guardian At Noon (1997)
- Something About Driving (live, 1999)
- things that fall from the sky (2003)
- Errant Fairies & Murderous Maidens (live, 2011)
Blue Apples
Release info:
1993, re-released 1996—Prime CD
Availability:
See Vyktoria Pratt Keating's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Vicky Pratt Keating—vocals, guitar
Guest artists:
Bob Read—keyboards, percussion
Pete Kennedy—guitars
Robert Jospé—drums, percussion
Dennis Espantman—bass
Paddy Keenan—uillean pipes
Rick Schmidt—violin, cello, viola
Akira Otsuka—mandolin
Sam Henze—electric guitar
Fred Boyce—banjo
Bob Vasile—bazouki
Comments:
Blue Apples is a very nice CD. She has a very pretty voice, and some very good songs. I'm reminded at times of Joni Mitchell, especially on 'Shoot for the Moon'. (sspan)Blue Apples features some beautiful songs, a lovely voice, and instruments from guitar to cello to uillean pipes—in short, very Ectoid stuff. (rlewis@adnc.com)
I went and got this CD after reading an article in a local paper for a show that she was going to be doing. Kate Bush and Nanci Griffith were listed as comparisons, I guess in terms of describing her voice. She sounds like Nanci at times, and the music is her own, but overall the CD didn't grab me much. I enjoy the first two songs; the second one, "n.y. 10/11/91" is especially nice. Very sad, but nice. There are some other moments here and there that show she is talented, her songs are ok, but too fairly generic. (alundra@netos.com)
This Guardian At Noon
Release info:
1997—Diaphanous Records
Availability:
See Vyktoria Pratt Keating's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Vyktoria Pratt Keating—all acoustic guitars, vocals, dumbek, drums, bells, chimes
Guest artists:
J. Christian Quick—bass, sitar, keyboards, bowed cymbals, drums
Jay Miles—drums (7)
Tom Downey—bass (7)
Jason Quick—flute (7)
Bob Kloss— drums (8)
Nathan Burke— bass (8)
Produced by:
Vyktoria Pratt Keating and Christian Quick
Comments:
The album is a bit new agey (which goes with the name change from Vicky to Vyktoria), but not annoyingly so. It's got the same pretty vocals you talk about, and a lot of interesting instruments, in particular some nice textured percussion stuff (tiny cymbals, chimes, bells). There is also a hilarious song about her dreams of rock stars. (neal)
things that fall from the sky
Release info:
2003—diaphanous—014
Availability:
See website for availability
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Vyktoria Pratt Keating—vocals, guitar
Guest artists:
Andrew Giddings—arrangements
Produced by:
Andrew Giddings
Comments:
Vyktoria Pratt Keating sings quirky lyrics to unusual melodies. She has a distinctive resemblance to Kate Bush, but there's a Victoria Williams influence to her as well. The spaced-out words and accessible tunes cohabit this record well.
The shimmering strands of "Pluto Pluto" sound just fine. "Sleepy Cat's Song" is just what it says and quite adorable with it. "Black helicopters" gives a sci-fi slant to Kate Bush's eighties sound. "Here I am, waitress to the dead" begins "You and me". It's a great opening line and a nice song.
It's hard to put a label on this music, but it's fine whatever you call it. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
Further info:
Write: PO Box 51, Sperryville, VA 22740, USA, vyktoria@sedona.net
Thanks to Anna Maria Stjärnell for work on this entry.
