Out of Town, the latest two-CD set from Vancouver’s Karin Plato, delivers 17 tracks with confidence and complete vocal control — impressive, considering everything from jazz to show tunes to a movie soundtrack are covered here.
For my money, its second disc is notably stronger, with Christine Newland's cello and Plato's vocals on “Blackberry Winter” mixing to haunting results, while tracks like “Butterfly” and the alternate take for “Try to Remember” also impress. The piano arrangements on the first disc, on the other hand, occasionally overwhelm Plato's vocals, though its first track, “I'd Rather Be Somewhere Hot,” is a perfectly balanced energizer. Further, the discs boast some strong, fresh tracks, such as her interpretations of the Wizard of Oz's 'If I Only Had a Brain' and “I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket.”
At its best, Out of Town showcases compelling improvisations on old familiars like “Try to Remember” and “Red Sails in the Sunset.” Still, I found myself wanting more, especially considering the vocal flights Plato delivers in Cole Porter’s “Get of Town,” “Golden Earrings” and “Day In, Day Out.” Still, it’s a pleasure to listen to, with nuance and shading on every track.
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