This album was released at the end of September 2018,
to coincide with a 16 date tour. For those in the Midlands Bromsgrove,Coventry and Milton Keynes
are on the itinerary. Botany
Bay is the third
studio album from Hertfordshire-based Kelly. It is a firm statement
of commitment to Trad.Arr. English Folk. The Award-winning Kelly has
already established herself on radio,on tour and at Festivals
including Cambridge and Costa Del Folk. The very listenable Botany
Bay is sure to build on her growing reputation.
Produced by Stu Hanna,it took 18
months to create and features songs collected from her home county,
many of which owe their original exposure to Lucy Broadwood. This
makes it a departure from her previous two albums which featured
predominantly her own compositions. She definitely has an ear and a
voice for traditional Folk music. Maybe her next album will feature a
new take on much loved traditional songs from around the world? I'd
certainly like to hear that.
For Kelly is one of a whole army of
winsomely lovely young ladies who sings somewhere in a range between
an Angel, Kim Lowings and Rosie Butler-Hall. Her clear diction,pure
enunciation and fabulous pitch ensure that each syllable is clearly
heard:each significant word in each narrative is succinctly
emphasised.
Her
strong musical pedigree adds an accomplished texture to the ten songs
included. She is not afraid to rearrange and rescript some of the
original material she discovered. Some songs are not straight
covers-they are rearranged and adapted-and none the worse for that.
Nor is she afraid to embrace new(-ish!) technology. She uses a
vocoder to duet eerily and effectively with herself on “Lady
Margaret” which
gives the track a
faintly weird and at times ghostly echo effect which is entirely
appropriate to the subject matter.
"The
Bramble Briar"also
has an interesting
treatment No spoilers to ruin the surprises but there is definitely
some funny business going on and the song includes a faintly
disturbing dialogue between two sisters, and an abrupt ending which
will catch out grizzled old Folk DJs like yours truly.
The
title track “Botany
Bay” jollies along at
a robust and spirited pace. The bouncy, layered introduction
featuring fiddle, banjo and a distinctly catchy vocal is serious
earworm territory, You'll find yourself humming the melody around the
house afterwards for days.
In
four brief years, Kelly Oliver has amassed friends and admirers in high
places. Whispering Bob himself describes her as “a
vital voice in British Folk Music,”
in the accompanying promo blurb. Three of Sam Kelly's band of
musicians feature on the album and their quality reinforces both the
mood and the presentation. Jamie Francis (banjo) Toby Shaer (flute
whistle and harmonium) and Eva Carson (Percussion) exert a strong
influence on several tracks. “Trees
They Grow High” features
a cameo appearance from Phil Beer,plus Lukas Drinkwater adds bass and
producer Hanna weighs in with mandola and piano.
“Died
of Love” features a
sensitive close-part harmony with Luke Jackson,and some harmonica
playing by Kelly herself. This lends a faintly Appalachian air to it
and makes it sound as if it originated from Kentucky rather than
Herts.
Botanty Bay is an
enjoyable listen with some thought-provoking content and excellent
sleeve notes. I'll certainly be revisiting it.
