Reviews
Artist:Ellis Paul Album: 55
Label: Rosella
Tracks: 12
Website: https://www.ellispaul.com/
Where he had previously written piecemeal in snatched moments between tours and studio time, Ellis Paul used the 2020's lockdowns at home, as an opportunity to write songs and record. Otherwise, as Ellis looked back on a life lived and dealt with the prospect of loosing his guitar and piano playing to Dupuytren's contracture (a disease that closes the fingers into fists), the context to 55 sounds a little bleak.
So this 2023 album is a thoughtful and emotional reflection on what could have been a number of dramatic changes to his life as a musician. "Cosmos" is a warm philosophical song above love. Ellis' upbeat soulful voice and nimble rhythm guitar keeping it light. "55" is a totem filled, look back at the stuff of life with a wry smile. The album is a look at the consequences of age, this is a tender love song, wrapped in nostalgia. "Who you are" uses the isolation of the American wilderness to literally and metaphorically strip everything away. Second voice and dobro from Abbie Gardner make the track particularly special. Age, time and Circumstance means that "Be The Fire", a set of life rules for Paul's daughters are delivered, over Radoslav Lorkovic's fine piano, with authority and pathos. That inventive piano and an interesting arrangement also add weight to the story song "Holy". Repeated lockdown watches of Peter Jackson's GET BACK, mean that "The Gift" ( lyrics inspired by a gift from Party Griffin) is infused with Beatles like backing vocals and a Harrison inspired solo. Paul has a distinctive voice with its own breathy cadence, informed as much by classic 60s pop as the weary acoustic singer songwriter oeuvre. So songs like the uplifting "Gold In California" or "Everyone Knows It Now" shine because of the honest smile is his singing as he recounts his joy at life and the sunny West Coast. While we are talking wonderful vocals, the paring of Ellis and his partner and Red Molly vocalist Laurie McAllister on this track, the trippy "Tattoo Lady" and "Sometimes Trouble Is Good" is inspired. The last two tracks are more firmly rooted in acoustic Americana. Paul's warm voice carries a serious message about gun ownership in "When Angela Fall". To me his sharp lyrics slant towards the absurdity of arming teachers as a deterrent, but that might be my 'non gun toting english educator's' perspective. The closer "A Song To Say Goodbye" is a beautiful guitar and piano love song with a final wonderfully tender vocal.
As he plans to tour his delightful self produced album number 23, Ellis has reason to be doubly or even triply pleased, as an operation in 2022 restored his ability to form chords with his left hand and an operation for his less affected right hand is planned for 2024.
Marc Higgins
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55
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.