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Blame Spotify and the rest of the faceless streaming sites. Bloody algorithms. The need to push an artist in one particular direction to find the playlist that best suits them can prove tricky for someone who defies pigeonholing. Someone like Elles Bailey. Is there simply a singer-songwriter category? Or is that too much for Daniel Ek and his bots to fathom?
The golden age of singer-songwriters could be found back in the early ’70s when Carly Simon released ‘No Secrets’, Carole King released ‘Tapestry’, James Taylor released ‘Sweet Baby James’, and between 1970 and 1974 when Joni Mitchell ruled the world with one glorious studio album after another. Add Linda Ronstadt to that list because Elles Bailey has the same chameleon-like qualities that made Ronstadt such a diverse talent. Now that’s the playlist where Elles Bailey belongs. Or, if you want to throw a curveball, track 8 on the likeable Bristolian’s exceptional new album ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ – the towering ‘Let It Burn’ – could easily slot into a playlist named “FFO Adele”; so much so that had Miss Adkins recorded this one then the Grammy for Song of the Year would already be hers…except that Adele has never featured such an emotive, smoking-hot guitar solo in any of her material thus far.
The growth and development of Bailey in the 7+ years since releasing her debut album ‘Wildfire’ in 2017 is nothing short of staggering and ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ – studio album number 4 – is her strongest to date.
It flows in a beautifully organic way and never seems to be in a rush. At 10 tracks in length, it is fat-free and does not hang around. It also surprises the listener at every twist and turn, none more so than on the delightful ‘Love Yourself’ (which harks back to every one of those legendary singer-songwriters listed above) where around the 3-minute mark it seems to be winding down with a gorgeous few moments of Elles Bailey at her laidback best; only for it to grow into an uplifting glorious expression of music that seems to have been cooked up right there on the spot – expect Bailey’s phenomenal guitarist Joe Wilkins to let fly on this one when it’s played live.
There is a lot of depth to ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’, and a lot of variety. Opening track ‘Enjoy The Ride’ is the rooting-tooting, hand-clapping soundtrack to that long-talked-about drive through the dustbowls and deserts of America, and if there was a trademark Elles Bailey sound, then perhaps this little beauty is it. ‘Ballad of a Broken Dream’ is another gorgeous moment that lands early on, and it’s such a cool, easygoing song that it is instantly memorable thanks to Bailey’s laidback vocals, and Matthew Jones’ wonderful drum work, whereas on ‘Leave The Light On’ it’s the funky keys on the intro from Jonny Henderson that linger on the most.
Somewhere in Nashville, Sheryl Crow is sitting listening to ‘1972’ and giving Elles the SC seal of approval. Wonderfully mellow and joyful, the only thing that is missing from the track is a naked and high Matthew McConaughey playing bongos. Alright, alright, alright.
When Elles takes it down a notch or two, then that is perhaps where she excels the most: ‘Silhouette In a Sunset’ is staggering; armed with a mournful, weeping guitar from Wilkins, and a simple and effective piano sound from Jonny Henderson, it is the perfect example of the growth to be found in the output from Elles Bailey. Elsewhere, the stark, melancholia of ‘Turn off The News’ is genuinely heartfelt, and perhaps throws up a conundrum for Elles: it is such a powerful song that it has to be heard live, but it is so fragile at times that the bugbear of hearing the dreaded chatterers at gigs will rear its ugly head. Solution? Deploy sharpshooters in the lighting rig armed with blow darts to knock out anyone chatting loudly while Elles is pouring her heart into such an emotional song.
With ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ Elles Bailey has given herself an almighty headache when it comes to putting the setlist together for the forthcoming tour. There are at least 6 tracks on the album vying for their moment in the spotlight alongside EB staples from the previous albums. What a glorious headache to have though.
Available now on Cooking Vinyl, purchase ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ HERE
Review – Dave
All images – Rob Blackham
AUGUST IN-STORE SHOWS:
Tue 13th LEEDS, Vinyl Whistle
Wed 14th BRIGHTON, Resident
Thu 15th BRISTOL, Rough Trade
SEPTEMBER
Wed 25th LINCOLN, The Drill
Thu 26th NORWICH, Waterfront
Fri 27th CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge Junction
Sat 28th OXFORD, O2 Academy 2
OCTOBER
Fri 11th CARLISLE, Carlisle Blues Festival
Sat 12th GLOUCESTER, Gloucester Guildhall
Thu 24th EXETER, Exeter Phoenix
Sat 26th BRISTOL, SWX
NOVEMBER
Sat 2nd LONDON, Islington Assembly Hall
Sun 3rd SOUTHAMPTON, Engine Rooms
Thu 14th SUNDERLAND, The Fire Station
Fri 15th EDINBURGH, Cabaret Voltaire
Sat 16th GLASGOW, Oran Mor
Sun 17th CHESTER, The Live Rooms
Sat 30th WOLVERHAMPTON, KK’s Steel Mill
DECEMBER
Sun 1st LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club
Tickets available HERE
