On this episode I’m joined by David Kitt for a deep dive into The Big Romance, his 2001 debut full-length album: an album that came from the underground to reach No. 5 in the Irish Album Charts and eventually sell 60,000 copies in Ireland.

I first saw David Kitt live in Whelan’s in early 2000 supporting Salako. The Hull band released music on Jeepster, home of the early Belle and Sebastian recordings. If I had been asked to describe Kitt’s sound back then I probably would have mentioned Salako, or It’s Jo and Danny whose Lank Haired Girl to Bearded Boy album I played a lot in the year 2000.

I’d have mentioned folktronica, the buzz word at the time, a fusion of folk and electronica that bands like It’s Jo and Danny produced. I’d have name-checked Four Tet and claimed that Kitt’s sound was a cross between those early Four Tet releases on Output and early Badly Drawn Boy EPs.

I’d have been pretending that I knew what I was talking about.

A few months after that Whelan’s gig came Kitt’s first release, an instrumental electronic track called ‘Irma Vep’, released on a split 7” by Road/Relish.

Writing that sentence is giving me goosebumps as I recall buying all 14 of those beautiful 7” singles in Road Records on Fade Street. They were a glorious barometer for what was happening in Dublin at the time.

Jubilee Allstars, Nina Hynes, The Tycho Brahe and The Jimmy Cake – all artists who I’ve featured on this podcast – released songs on those split 7” singles, now there’s some great music you won’t find on streaming services.

The seven-track Small Moments album came next on the recommenced Rough Trade Records.

This was an exciting time to be associated with the resurrected record label. Signings to Rough Trade just after the millennium included The Strokes, The Libertines, The Moldy Peaches, Jeffrey Lewis and Hope Sandoval.

Meanwhile Tugboat, Rough Trade’s sub label, was putting out incredible 7” singles by Mull Historical Society, Low and a trio of groundbreaking 7”s by Life Without Buildings.

Into this heady environment came Kitt with Small Moments.

The NME wrote: “Small moments, maybe, but certainly not inconsequential. David Kitt deals in hushed acoustic arpeggios, half-heard synth ambience, and stumbling programmed drum loops. Every little whispery glitch, drum flare, and keyboard buzz builds to a graceful sum greater than its makeshift parts.”

While The Irish Times wrote that: “Kitt’s music is all about small, sublime moments, and these seven songs add up to one sustained feeling of peace and quietude. Kitter’s sound is a universe away from folksy guitar-plucking; he deals in textures and ambience, using the language of electronica to transmit subtle emotional messages.”

The Big Romance came the following year, released on the Warners’ label Blanco Y Negro.

In Billboard magazine Nick Kelly wrote that: “the album revels in quiet hazy solitude reminiscent of Nick Drake but with modern beats, loops and effects suggesting influences as diverse as Stereolab and Beth Orton.”

‘Song From Hope St. (Brooklyn, NY)’ and ‘You Know What I Want To Know’ were released as singles and received massive radio play. The Big Romance went platinum and eventually sold 60,000 copies.

David Kitt was off. Tours abroad, one supporting Tindersticks would eventually lead him to joining the band for a period. Further albums, a return to Rough Trade for some of them, ups and downs, highs and lows, the great New Jackson project, the beautiful Idiot Check album from a few years ago, constantly looking forward, rarely looking in the rearview mirror.

And suddenly 25 years have gone by.

A moment to stop and reflect and reclaim what’s his.

The Big Romance (Kitter’s version) is about to be released.

For Further Listening:

The Big Romance (Kitter’s Version) is available on Bandcamp.

Songs To Learn And Sing – EP 793
Rough Trade Records: Ireland - An old episode of my radio show featuring songs from 13 Irish Artists who have released music on Rough Trade Records featuring: Girl Band, Virgin Prunes, David Kitt, SOAK, Princess Tinymeat, Puppy Love Bomb, Hal, Microdisney, The Stars of Heaven, Daniel Figgis, Cara Dillon, Lankum and Stiff Little Fingers.