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Elly Roberts reviews
Grand Harmonium Records
- Released: September 2006
- Rating: 6/10
In commercial terms, All Things Real has little appeal.However, it shouldnt be overlooked.
Clearly Steve Adey doesnt sing very well, nevertheless his vocals curiouslyjuxtapose with the atmospheric, dramatic compositions. Moving further intothe album, we hear a voice that becomes entrancing, and impassioned.Adey has definitely mastered one art – somehow he manages to plunder thedepths of his soul, and doesnt hold back a note.
All Things Real is the debut release from the Brummie Edinburgh basedsinger-songwriter. Like so many of its ilk, time is needed to embrace themusic. In the business, its likely to be considered a slow burner a laDamien Rices ‘O’. Its not quite Americana, but close enough, witha British twist on the genre.
Scrapping his initial concept of a big sound (which would have madeinteresting listening) hes deployed a disarming sparseness – Adey draws asigh after Evening Of The Day as if to register his mindset. Theseheartfelt songs, some might say melancholic, have an intimacy all of theirown, which is a rare commodity, or even a risk, in a business intent on anin your face approach.
Theres a minimalism that becomes the running thread of cohesion, withvarious add-ons to his piano work, such as cello, violin, harmonium, guitarsand drums, with all instruments used to great effect. After a sombre piano-ledopening Death To All Things Real, stumbling Lost Boat Songbrings a magnificent duo with Helena MacGlip – it’s as if the pair arebouncing the emotions like a pin-pong match.Fragile Mary Margaret OHara lasts barely a minute, but is a perfect prefixfor the tender build-up of Find The Way.
Call it foolish or down right brave, he tackles Bob Dylans Shelter FromThe Storm with ample power and conviction, which I think Bob would approve.Another cover, Bonnie Prince Charlies I See The Darkness is full ofuncertainty, particularly Adeys warbling voice on the second song in.Douglas MacDonalds tender acoustic picking make Evening Of The Day aspecial highlight, complimented by thinly textured strings, turning it into alittle gem.
Tonights dreamlike soundscapes at one minute 31 seconds lead straightinto an Americana floater, the atmospheric Last Remark and the cavernousand ethereal Mississippi (shades of Enya) which barely breaks sweat,with Adeys piano work down to the bare minimum.
The songs arent exactly memorable, or even radio friendly come to that,but the sort musos will drool over.
Weblink:steveadey.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Death To All Things Real
2. I See A Darkness
3. The Lost Boat Song
4. Mary Margaret OHara
5. Find The Way
6. Shelter From The Storm
7. Evening OF The Day
8. Tonight
9. The Last Remark
10. Mississippi
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.