Kelly Oliver - Bedlam

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 21 / 2 / 2016

---

For her second album Folkstock recording artist Kelly Oliver, who hails from Stevenage but who, given the lilt to her pure, crystal sharp vocals sounds like she has been a lifelong resident of Ireland, has employed the talents of three different producers. A risky move maybe given that Lauren Deakin-Davies who produced Kelly’s debut album, ‘This Land’, captured the folky nuances displayed in both Kelly’s vocals and songwriting perfectly. Deakin-Davies still plays a part in ‘Bedlam’ by being one of those producers. The four songs she lends her considerable talents to retain the stripped-back arrangement that informed ‘This Land’, so the majority of fans that were smitten by the sound of that debut will still find much to love here. One of the songs produced by Deakin-Davies, ‘The Other Woman’, although not one of the tracks so far given that extra push by means of a video or being released as a single, really needs an early mention; it’s everything that those who were touched by ‘This Land’ would expect from Kelly. Lyrical content which belies Kelly’s young years, a haunting, almost chilling, performance and a sparse arrangement make the song, while not the most commercial on the album, the reason why Kelly Oliver is held in such high regard by both the young folk crowd and those who have been around a good while longer. The song is, without a doubt, one of the most affecting modern folk songs put down by one of our country’s most promising young talents. It could be argued that Deakin-Davies (along with Kelly who co-produced these four tracks) has created a bridge between the more folk-based sound of ‘This Land’ and the more pop-infused leanings that the other two producers of ‘Bedlam’ have created. ‘Same World’, one of four tracks produced by Stu Hanna of folk-duo Megson and which features Stu and wife Debbie on backing vocals, is placed in the middle of the four songs that Deakin-Davies co-produced and, although there is undoubtedly a shift in sound from the two songs that precede and follow the change, it is subtle. It doesn’t upset the flow of the album. In many ways it adds to the listening pleasure. Some thought has obviously been placed in the running order of the songs on ‘Bedlam’. The title song was written by Kelly and Stu Hanna. Much has been made already of Kelly’s lyrical skills, the way in which she is carrying on the folk tradition of writing lyrics that the everyman can relate to or bringing to life the trials and tribulations of those who lived in tougher times and experienced harsher lives than most do, and on this opening cut there’s undoubted proof of that. The tale of a young girl who is imprisoned after giving birth to her unwanted child is chillingly retold by Kelly and, with Stu Hanna’s fiddle, percussion and guitar hammering home the message, it’s an exciting and unexpected way to open this second album. Hanna’s other productions, besides the aforementioned ‘Same World’ and ‘that opening cut, are ‘Lay Our Heavy Heads’ and ‘Miles to Tralee’. The former neatly updates the sound Kelly explored on her debut while the latter, one of the singles that was released as the album was being recorded, will be familiar to anyone with just a passing interest in Kelly’s career. A detailed story of migration it displays why Kelly is being welcomed into folk circles. With an array of extra instruments adding not only texture but authenticity to what will in years to come be regarded as a classic folk song, it shows just how far Kelly has developed in the short time since her debut. There are two songs co-written and produced by Nigel Stonier, the multi-instrumentalist/producer who is at the helm of Thea Gilmore’s sound and who has released solo albums of his own that deserved more attention than they received. ‘Jericho’ is another song that will be known to those following Kelly’s progress. With her harmonica finally making an appearance and Stonier’s dulcimer and piano along with Ciaran Algar’s violin playing, the song can hardly fail. The fact that it has a killer chorus and that when Stonier and Algar add their vocals it’s a ‘stop-what-you’re-doing’ moment make the song an ideal choice for radio play; putting folk in a contemporary pop setting like this, Stonier was an inspired and natural choice. ‘Rio’ closes the album and is the second Stonier co-write and production. Featuring Thea Gilmore on backing vocals, it follows the pattern set by ‘Jericho’ in that it adds a pop sensibility to Kelly’s folk leanings. When it comes to adding a twist to folk music there are few who capture it as well as Stonier. Although not the only producer helping taking folk music to a new generation, he is one of the best. Obviously having an artist like Kelly Oliver who is prepared to expand her sound and not afraid to take risks makes the job that much more rewarding. There will be other reviews quoting lines of Kelly’s lyrics so we will refrain from that, but the more you listen to ‘Bedlam’ the more it becomes obvious that Kelly an exceptionable lyricist. Capable of getting across her message in a convincing way while never preaching, the subtle way some of her stories unfold makes for compelling listening. Kelly Oliver is sure to capture a new audience with ‘Bedlam’ while not losing any of the fan base she has built up. Currently on tour promoting the album, 2016 is shaping up to be the year Kelly Oliver breaks through.

Track Listing:-

1 Bedlam
2 Lay Our Heavy Heads
3 Jericho
4 Miles to Tralee
5 In The City
6 The Other Woman
7 Same World
8 Ghosts At Night
9 Die This Way
10 Rio

Band Links:-

http://kellyoliver.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/kellyolivermusic/
https://twitter.com/kellyoliveruk
http://www.folkstockartsfoundation.com/kelly-oliver/
https://soundcloud.com/kellyoliver
https://plus.google.com/+KellyOliverMusic

Label Links:-

http://www.folkstockartsfoundation.com/folkstock-records/
https://twitter.com/Folkstock
https://www.youtube.com/user/Folkstock
https://plus.google.com/108149776288525712118
https://www.facebook.com/folkstockrecords
http://www.folkstockrecords.com/

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg