If you are into British Blues, Americana and aren’t aware of Elles, I suggest you have been asleep for the last ten years. She has had three albums out, every one an award winner, and every one a progression on the last. She has personally won awards as a performer, songwriter in the Blues Awards and British Americana Awards. She has even been inducted into the UK Blues Hall Of Fame. She has taken the stage at many festivals, culminating in a set at Glastonbury this year. ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ is her fourth album and the first on a major label.
The question to ask, is this part of her natural progression or is ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ more of the same as before? The answer, to me, is both! Elles has been involved in dozens of workshops over the years, and the thing that happens from these workshops is exposure to other singers and songwriters styles and sounds and the inevitable absorption in both directions. And the album shows just how much she has learned and developed her writing and singing from all those. It is definitely her strongest album to date and, I suggest, one she should be very proud of.
10 tracks and not one of them weak or filler. From ‘Enjoy The Ride’ onwards, the songs are strong, the playing is excellent, and her voice is captivating. That husky, slightly soulful and completely natural presentation – a slight Bristolian twang. Every song gets a different treatment. On ‘Ballad Of A Broken Dream’ you can hear all the years of struggle that so many musicians go through, while on ‘Leave The Light On’ there is love for the family that is always there when she is back from yet another tour or festival.
Latest single, ‘1972’, has a funky, groovy feel, a love call to the simplicity of that wonderful year.
My favourite track is probably ‘Let It Burn’. A powerful break-up ballad with great backing vocals from co-writer Katey Joy Brookes and a stunning guitar solo from Joe Wilkins.
She is backed throughout by her touring band - Joe Wilkins /Guitar - Electric Guitar, Jonny Henderson /Keyboards – Piano, Matthew Jones /Percussion – Drums, Matthew Waer /Guitar - Bass Guitar and the production was by Dan Weller.
It is, altogether, a brilliant summer album and clear evidence that Elles Bailey is just moving forward, up and on.
