Hayley Griffiths – Far From Here; Hayley Griffiths Band - MELANIE
Outstanding and versatile vocalist Hayley Griffiths has kicked off her year with a musically contrasting but doubly satisfying two album release, showcasing her love for traditional/ Celtic songs and symphonic/ contemporary rock.
The classically trained Griffiths, who spent nearly a decade as the lead singer in the international phenomenon Riverdance and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance before fronting Celtic-tinged melodic progressives Karnataka for seven years (featuring on excellent 2015 album Secrets Of Angels) has released her third solo album Far From Here alongside MELANIE, the debut studio album from The Hayley Griffiths Band (the singer formed the rock group after leaving Karnataka in 2017, releasing a live CD (and double DVD) in 2021).
Far From Here follows in the evocative Celtic footsteps of Silver Screen (Classical Crossover Album of The Year 2010) and previous solo album, 2011’s Celtic Rose.
The album is led-off by the title track, the one original number on the album.
Written by Mike Stobbie (founding member of Scottish progressive rock band Pallas; Stobbie also produced the album), 'Far From Here' opens with lone voice, then piano, before blossoming into a mythical Celtic tale of a Princess who ex-communicates herself from her own country due to the infidelity of her lover.
The classically trained Griffiths, who spent nearly a decade as the lead singer in the international phenomenon Riverdance and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance before fronting Celtic-tinged melodic progressives Karnataka for seven years (featuring on excellent 2015 album Secrets Of Angels) has released her third solo album Far From Here alongside MELANIE, the debut studio album from The Hayley Griffiths Band (the singer formed the rock group after leaving Karnataka in 2017, releasing a live CD (and double DVD) in 2021).
Far From Here follows in the evocative Celtic footsteps of Silver Screen (Classical Crossover Album of The Year 2010) and previous solo album, 2011’s Celtic Rose.
The album is led-off by the title track, the one original number on the album.
Written by Mike Stobbie (founding member of Scottish progressive rock band Pallas; Stobbie also produced the album), 'Far From Here' opens with lone voice, then piano, before blossoming into a mythical Celtic tale of a Princess who ex-communicates herself from her own country due to the infidelity of her lover.
The remaining ten tracks on Far From Here feature new arrangements of well-known or revered trad. Celtic/ folk tunes, including a beautifully evocative take on The Fureys world-wide hit 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen,' a jaunty rendition of traditional Irish folk ballad 'The Star of the County Down' and the purity of voice that leads traditional Irish lament 'Siúil a Rún.'
Great singer that Hayley Griffiths is, it’s that aforementioned purity of tone and vocal clarity/ enunciation that sets her above many such singers mixing the traditional/ balladeering with rock.
In that regard comparison to Annie Haslam is both obvious and merited, particularly evident on the album’s symphonically arranged version of 'Scarborough Fair.'
It’s should also be noted that those north of the border will find their hearts stirring (and beating just that little bit stronger) to the strains of 'Skye Boat Song' (here carrying a mid-song rise & fall that seems to emulate the swell of the waves as the boat takes "the lad born to be King" to the isle), a gorgeously voiced rendition of 'Loch Lomond' and, closing out the album, a classical meets Celtic arrangement of Dougie MacLean’s 'Caledonia.'
Great singer that Hayley Griffiths is, it’s that aforementioned purity of tone and vocal clarity/ enunciation that sets her above many such singers mixing the traditional/ balladeering with rock.
In that regard comparison to Annie Haslam is both obvious and merited, particularly evident on the album’s symphonically arranged version of 'Scarborough Fair.'
It’s should also be noted that those north of the border will find their hearts stirring (and beating just that little bit stronger) to the strains of 'Skye Boat Song' (here carrying a mid-song rise & fall that seems to emulate the swell of the waves as the boat takes "the lad born to be King" to the isle), a gorgeously voiced rendition of 'Loch Lomond' and, closing out the album, a classical meets Celtic arrangement of Dougie MacLean’s 'Caledonia.'
MELANIE, The Hayley Griffiths Band’s first official studio album, is a heady and successful mix of contemporary symphonic rock, melodic rock and progressive themes featuring strong vocals, and equally impressive vocal melodies.
The band – Griffiths, former Karnataka band mates Cagri Tozluoglu (keys) and Jimmy Pallagrosi (drums, production), along with fast and fluid six-stringer Mathieu Spaeter and bassist Jordan Brown – are in high symphonic rock gear from the off on six-minute opener 'Broken Lullaby,' which seamlessly flits from almost metal-edged riffage and power to more rhythmic atmospheric passages, a darker, pseudo-choral middle 8, short but effective guitar-to-synth solos and a big, hook-you-in chorus melody.
Then there’s the superb title track, a dynamic and highly charged slice of contemporary rock with a symphonic twist and a dash of Dr Jekyll and Mrs Hyde ("Melanie you’re part of me, Melanie you got the best of me; Cruel by design she’s the devil entwined and out of my mind!").
The band – Griffiths, former Karnataka band mates Cagri Tozluoglu (keys) and Jimmy Pallagrosi (drums, production), along with fast and fluid six-stringer Mathieu Spaeter and bassist Jordan Brown – are in high symphonic rock gear from the off on six-minute opener 'Broken Lullaby,' which seamlessly flits from almost metal-edged riffage and power to more rhythmic atmospheric passages, a darker, pseudo-choral middle 8, short but effective guitar-to-synth solos and a big, hook-you-in chorus melody.
Then there’s the superb title track, a dynamic and highly charged slice of contemporary rock with a symphonic twist and a dash of Dr Jekyll and Mrs Hyde ("Melanie you’re part of me, Melanie you got the best of me; Cruel by design she’s the devil entwined and out of my mind!").
There is also, perhaps unsurprisingly, a touch of Karnataka on some of the numbers – the rhythmically driven verses (nod here to Messrs Pallagrosi & Brown) and weightier rock passages of 'Last Goodbye' is perhaps the best example of a song that would have sat fairly comfortably on Secrets Of Angels.
Heavy symphonic ballad 'Perfect Lie' makes good use of vocal light, heavier musical shade and a number of tempo shifts/ change-ups while up-tempo ballad 'Made My Bed,' built atop an interesting and effective rhythm, is a lighter and airier AOR proposition that allows Hayley Griffiths to take a different/ poppier vocal approach.
There’s a bluesier style of balladeering (with a suitably melodic and bluesy solo from Mathieu Spaeter) to be heard on 'Little Star' before the ever-shifting, melodically rocking and wonderfully hooky 'Dust to Gold' takes centre stage.
The excellent latter, featuring Big Big Train drummer/vocalist Nick D’Virgilio in the late vocal going, is the most progressive piece on the album and the longest, clocking in at a shade under seven minutes.
The album is further enhanced by three bonus tracks.
There's a new, slightly darker and weightier version of ballad 'Separated By Glass' (Hayley Griffiths’ first single release in 2009, subsequently featuring on Silver Screen), another ballad, the 2018 single 'Aurora,' and pick of the bunch, 'Haunted.'
Originally an atmospheric Celtic-pop number on Silver Screen, this version of 'Haunted' is the rerecorded and symphonically rocked up single version from 2019, with drum rhythm to the fore.
As can clearly be determined by the album covers Far From Here and MELANIE are very different musical propositions, but Hayley Griffiths’ passion, and voice, for both the lighter traditional and darker contemporary, is apparent for all to hear on two outstanding albums.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Far From Here and MELANIE will be released on January 20th.
Visit website to pre-order (plus other merch) via the Shop at: https://www.hayleygriffiths.com/
Heavy symphonic ballad 'Perfect Lie' makes good use of vocal light, heavier musical shade and a number of tempo shifts/ change-ups while up-tempo ballad 'Made My Bed,' built atop an interesting and effective rhythm, is a lighter and airier AOR proposition that allows Hayley Griffiths to take a different/ poppier vocal approach.
There’s a bluesier style of balladeering (with a suitably melodic and bluesy solo from Mathieu Spaeter) to be heard on 'Little Star' before the ever-shifting, melodically rocking and wonderfully hooky 'Dust to Gold' takes centre stage.
The excellent latter, featuring Big Big Train drummer/vocalist Nick D’Virgilio in the late vocal going, is the most progressive piece on the album and the longest, clocking in at a shade under seven minutes.
The album is further enhanced by three bonus tracks.
There's a new, slightly darker and weightier version of ballad 'Separated By Glass' (Hayley Griffiths’ first single release in 2009, subsequently featuring on Silver Screen), another ballad, the 2018 single 'Aurora,' and pick of the bunch, 'Haunted.'
Originally an atmospheric Celtic-pop number on Silver Screen, this version of 'Haunted' is the rerecorded and symphonically rocked up single version from 2019, with drum rhythm to the fore.
As can clearly be determined by the album covers Far From Here and MELANIE are very different musical propositions, but Hayley Griffiths’ passion, and voice, for both the lighter traditional and darker contemporary, is apparent for all to hear on two outstanding albums.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Far From Here and MELANIE will be released on January 20th.
Visit website to pre-order (plus other merch) via the Shop at: https://www.hayleygriffiths.com/