Here’s yet another perspective on poet/rap artist Kate Tempest. The dismissive tone of the critic reminded me of Truman Capote’s much-quoted assessment of Jack Kerouac, “That’s not writing; that’s just typewriting.”
What do you think? [The Hobbledehoy]
Few would describe the south Londoner’s poetry as ‘moreish’. Less-ish, perhap
Lloyd Evans/The Spectator.
Kate Tempest, a 30 year old dramatist and poet, has an appeal that’s hard to fathom. Is it all in the elbows? Like most performers raised on hip hop, she recites with her upper limbs flapping and wiggling as if by remote control. For emphasis she uses that impatient downward flicking gesture, beloved of rappers, like a countess at a buffet ridding her fingers of unwanted guacamole.
Few would describe the south Londoner’s poetry as ‘moreish’. Less ish, perhaps. She sates the ear too rapidly because her technique has an obvious and easily corrected fault: no variety. Tempo and mood never change, so she can’t create expectation, uncertainty, surprise or relief. Every line sounds like
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