Nick Ellis - Adult Fiction

by Steve Kinrade

published: 23 / 12 / 2017

Label: Mellowtone Records
Format: CD

Minimal but haunting and enthralling latest album from Liverpool-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Nick Ellis

Review

The key to great song-writing is how the composition actually stands up to musical and artistic scrutiny. What I mean by this is despite so called production values that are grafted onto a song during the recording process, does its essence still remain? It's a brave and bold statement to release an album of compositions that have sparse production values, allowing their essence and integrity of the songs to shine through. Nick Ellis’ latest album 'Adult Fiction', is such an album. Built upon the premise of an old family folklore of the architect of one of Liverpool’s most curious and engaging landmarks, the Princes Road Boulevard, 'Adult Fiction' presents twelve songs, including three instrumentals, that live and breathe within and without this scenario. Each has its own character and narrator's voice, which subtly changes. It’s always Nick Ellis, but with subtle inflections to enhance the lyrical narrative. For instance, the album opener, 'All Night Long' swaggers and grooves within a Deep South Americana atmosphere, yet the guitar opening of 'The Blue Soul' is reminiscent of the English pastoral. Such beautiful guitar playing is continued onto 'Clockwatching', an exquisite, delicate composition that through the emotions it evokes completely transcends its mundane subject setting. Office life becomes the starting point for a new emotional life, when a new love manages to re-set our thoughts, and perhaps become more mindful. This song sums up how we all have felt at such irresistible times - “I’m falling for you, you know I’m falling for you”. Indeed, the theme of relationships weaves itself through the majority of songs - 'Your Love' (with its lovely backing vocals and Heaton-esque inflection), the sublime 'Heartbreak City', which Springsteen in his pomp would have loved to have wrote. How Nick Ellis has structured this song, with the wait for the drop to the pre-chorus, is particularly satisfying. He himself considers this to be probably the best song he has ever written. The other lyrical songs on this album are, however, not far behind, with the catchy and emotive 'The Bistro Confessional', or the smoky and sultry 'She Devil Woman', atmospherically describing a probably bourbon-drenched emotional Faustian pact with only one outcome. The three instrumentals display Nick’s guitar virtuosity, and add to the the raison d’être of the album. 'Adult Fiction' ends with probably Ellis most emotional vocal performance, with him not afraid to stretch the voice to breaking point in order to push the emotion to a higher level, because that is what his art demands. And you will feel emotionally drained as his last words of 'A Girl Called Desire' fade away, just like it’s author. 'Adult Fiction' is a tremendous offering from an artist whose work is now, rightly so, being recognised within a wider context. This is an emotionally brave and mature album, from an auteur who has a particular gifted insight into relationships and the particular atmospheres they self-generate. The compositions are so good they stand alone with minimal production, which on reflection is all that is needed. This lily has no need to be gilded. The recordings were apparently conducted quickly, which has kept the essence and spirit alive. The songs address how we interact with other people, and will stay with you. If you buy only one album this year, make it this one. These songs need to be heard and appreciated.

Track Listing:-

1 All Night Long
2 The Blue Soul
3 Clockwatching
4 Your Love
5 Raga Psalm
6 By Your Side
7 Heartbreak City
8 A Ballet of Midnights
9 The Bistro Confessional
10 She-Devil Woman
11 Victoria's Theme
12 A Girl Called Desire