Paul Kelly is a bit like Weet-Bix. Whether you like them or not, your parents will make them very available throughout your childhood, and though you may scoff and spit early on, as your taste buds mature, you begin to appreciate them a little until all of a sudden it’s not your parents cereal, it’s your own.
Four out of five kids aged between 20 and 25 were force-fed Songs Of The South: Vol 1 growing up. Fact. Consequently Paul Kelly feels more like an uncle than a singer/songwriter. If I ran into him at a pub I imagine we would shake hands, have a beer and he’d ask me questions like, “Hows the writing going, champ?” Revealing songs, mongrel memoirs and documentaries have given us more than a snapshot of this great man and many of us wait on baited breath for his next move. In this case, his first studio album in five long years.
It must be said, on first listen I thought perhaps this was a meek offering from Uncle Paul. However as I persisted with the record, little gems started revealing themselves. First in melody, then in a lyric here or there and finally a full song from start to finish. The first song to hit was Cold As Canada, a classic example of how Kelly takes a personal emotion and makes it universally accessible – a ballad that builds with subtle instrumentation, culminating in a delicate harmonica. Next was I’m On Your Side, a gentle piece of music perhaps better described as a hymn or an ode to a loved one and another classic piece of Kelly songwriting. Similarly, album closer Little Aches And Pains meanders on and slowly but surely will have you reeling, remembering and hurting.
On the strength of those three songs, the rest of the album started blooming and suddenly the odd choices of instrumentation or gospel singing that threw me a little on first listen were given a context. Spring And Fall proves an interesting insight into the middle-age blues, and proves some feelings and immaturities that we’re positive will abate with age will be with us all the way. Another effortlessly solid album from the stayer, Kelly.
BY JACK PARSONS
Best Track: Cold As Canada
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Moo, You Bloody Choir AUGIE MARCH, Cruel Guards THE PANICS
In A Word: Indicative
