Elles Bailey – Beneath The Neon Glow
Rootsy, genre-blending, husky voiced songstress Elles Bailey gave herself a hard act to follow with previous, and third, studio album Shining in the Half Light.
But the multi-award winning, Bristol based singer has a knack of continually setting herself ever-rising goals that are challenging but, as latest offering Beneath the Neon Glow proves, both achievable and rewarding.
With some 40 songs to consider, a writing trip to Nashville and a recording session in Devon, Elles Bailey, her stellar live band (Joe Wilkins - guitars; Jonny Henderson - keys, piano; Matthew Jones - drums, percussion; Matthew Waer - bass guitar) and returning producer Dan Weller (who also mixed the album) honed said songs and sessions down to a ten track album that presents, and highlights, every aspect of her ever-expanding musicality.
(A nod here too for Demi Marriner, Liam Cromby and Holly Carter, who provide backing vocals on most numbers, to fine, well-arranged effect).
A lyrical exploration through life, love (both lost and enduring) and friendship, Beneath the Neon Glow is also the latest part of Bailey’s musical journey, something that’s clear on opener 'Enjoy the Ride,' a rhythm (make that rhythmic) and bluesy, Americana-infused, driving down a dusty road rocker that’s as upbeat as it is infectious.
"Sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride!" sings Elles Bailey, as a clarion call to the intertwined travels of Miss Bailey and her fans.
Similarly up-tempo is radio friendly Americana/ Nashville-AOR number 'Ballad of a Broken Dream.'
Written in 2019 with Tamara Stewart, Elles Bailey had, initially, no intention of ever recording the song (it wasn’t considered for Shining in the Half Light), such is the personal nature of the lyric.
But we should all be glad Elles Bailey has now decided to record it, because it’s a lovely, acoustic and piano backed, big sounding number that’s impossible to shake – and, one suspects, a healing outlet for the singer (while the story behind 'Ballad of a Broken Dream' is very personal, it’s couched in such a way that nothing (and no-one) is given away).
The mid-tempo and, again, big sounding (Dan Weller’s production & mix are as impressive as the songs and performances) 'Leave The Light On' is as bright, catchy and musically appealing as 'Ballad Of Broken Dream,' but here shaped more as a crossover country number, complete with tasty little solo from Joe Wilkins.
Following number '1972' musically reflects the song’s title via a gloriously funky vibe, fun lyric ("songs were better, lovers wrote letters, cola came in glass bottles and Polaroid's stuck on the fridge") and added sax-appeal from guest player Pete Fraser.
But the multi-award winning, Bristol based singer has a knack of continually setting herself ever-rising goals that are challenging but, as latest offering Beneath the Neon Glow proves, both achievable and rewarding.
With some 40 songs to consider, a writing trip to Nashville and a recording session in Devon, Elles Bailey, her stellar live band (Joe Wilkins - guitars; Jonny Henderson - keys, piano; Matthew Jones - drums, percussion; Matthew Waer - bass guitar) and returning producer Dan Weller (who also mixed the album) honed said songs and sessions down to a ten track album that presents, and highlights, every aspect of her ever-expanding musicality.
(A nod here too for Demi Marriner, Liam Cromby and Holly Carter, who provide backing vocals on most numbers, to fine, well-arranged effect).
A lyrical exploration through life, love (both lost and enduring) and friendship, Beneath the Neon Glow is also the latest part of Bailey’s musical journey, something that’s clear on opener 'Enjoy the Ride,' a rhythm (make that rhythmic) and bluesy, Americana-infused, driving down a dusty road rocker that’s as upbeat as it is infectious.
"Sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride!" sings Elles Bailey, as a clarion call to the intertwined travels of Miss Bailey and her fans.
Similarly up-tempo is radio friendly Americana/ Nashville-AOR number 'Ballad of a Broken Dream.'
Written in 2019 with Tamara Stewart, Elles Bailey had, initially, no intention of ever recording the song (it wasn’t considered for Shining in the Half Light), such is the personal nature of the lyric.
But we should all be glad Elles Bailey has now decided to record it, because it’s a lovely, acoustic and piano backed, big sounding number that’s impossible to shake – and, one suspects, a healing outlet for the singer (while the story behind 'Ballad of a Broken Dream' is very personal, it’s couched in such a way that nothing (and no-one) is given away).
The mid-tempo and, again, big sounding (Dan Weller’s production & mix are as impressive as the songs and performances) 'Leave The Light On' is as bright, catchy and musically appealing as 'Ballad Of Broken Dream,' but here shaped more as a crossover country number, complete with tasty little solo from Joe Wilkins.
Following number '1972' musically reflects the song’s title via a gloriously funky vibe, fun lyric ("songs were better, lovers wrote letters, cola came in glass bottles and Polaroid's stuck on the fridge") and added sax-appeal from guest player Pete Fraser.
'Silhouette in the Sunset' is the album's poignant Nashville ballad moment, with Joe Wilkins atmospheric guitar lines and Jonny Henderson’s piano playing as pivotal a role as Elles Bailey’s delightful vocal and the (literary) timelessness of the lyric ("I’ll see you when we meet at the dark end of the street, or the end of the galaxy… 10,000 years from now it’ll be so funny how we’ll beg the band to play one more, we’ll be the last one’s on the dance floor").
An understated number perhaps, but it carries a musical and lyrical charm like no other song.
'Truth Ain’t Gonna Save Us' returns to the mid-tempo British Americana Elles Bailey and her band do so well, while another successful staple of the Bailey sound is the rootsy rock and roll of 'If This is Love.'
But it’s the contrast of complementary styles that make Beneath the Neon Glow such a winner.
Atmospheric ballad 'Let It Burn,' for example (a co-write with old friend Katey Brooks, who also features on backing vocals), is a song Adele would have a massive, across the boards #1 hit with ("And if you don’t love me no more, set this alight and close the door - and let it burn")
Ladies and gentlemen Elles Bailey; as you’ve never heard her before.
'Love Yourself' is a light and airy nod to "get back on your feet" positivity, complete with a celebratory, gospel-inspired finale, while 'Turn Off The News' provides beautifully forlorn contrast as the album’s closing ballad, with emotive vocality to the fore.
Available Digitally, various colours of Vinyl, Cassette (nice touch) and CD, most fans will want to grab the Deluxe Edition of the latter, which carries six bonus tracks including barroom singalong number 'Who Needs The Weather' and four acoustic numbers.
Shining in the Half Light was Elles Bailey’s breakout album but Beneath the Neon Glow, with the backing of Cooking Vinyl (a leading independent record label, one that let's the artists musically speak for themselves) has her basking in the full light of artistic illumination.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
An understated number perhaps, but it carries a musical and lyrical charm like no other song.
'Truth Ain’t Gonna Save Us' returns to the mid-tempo British Americana Elles Bailey and her band do so well, while another successful staple of the Bailey sound is the rootsy rock and roll of 'If This is Love.'
But it’s the contrast of complementary styles that make Beneath the Neon Glow such a winner.
Atmospheric ballad 'Let It Burn,' for example (a co-write with old friend Katey Brooks, who also features on backing vocals), is a song Adele would have a massive, across the boards #1 hit with ("And if you don’t love me no more, set this alight and close the door - and let it burn")
Ladies and gentlemen Elles Bailey; as you’ve never heard her before.
'Love Yourself' is a light and airy nod to "get back on your feet" positivity, complete with a celebratory, gospel-inspired finale, while 'Turn Off The News' provides beautifully forlorn contrast as the album’s closing ballad, with emotive vocality to the fore.
Available Digitally, various colours of Vinyl, Cassette (nice touch) and CD, most fans will want to grab the Deluxe Edition of the latter, which carries six bonus tracks including barroom singalong number 'Who Needs The Weather' and four acoustic numbers.
Shining in the Half Light was Elles Bailey’s breakout album but Beneath the Neon Glow, with the backing of Cooking Vinyl (a leading independent record label, one that let's the artists musically speak for themselves) has her basking in the full light of artistic illumination.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ