Elles Bailey is on a roll, after playing Glastonbury and taking home an armful of
trophies at this year's UK Blues Awards, she’s back with her eagerly anticipated fourth album.
'Beneath the Neon Glow' has a slightly different sound than her previous work, but this album is very much an evolution of her creativity rather than a marked shift in direction. Elles has never followed one particular journey through her career, as the rip-roaring opening track 'Enjoy the Ride' reminds us - there is "no destination, only dreams to realise". This is an album that stretches Elles both vocally and as a writer. There are subtle country tones, like the peddle steel on 'Silhouette In a Sunset' and more blues rock grooves on 'Love Yourself'. It’s also a record where Elles allows herself to be vulnerable as a writer and performer. So if you come into this album having fixed expectations, then you better buckle up.
The opening three tracks all point towards personal experiences on her journey: from being in the moment to seeing where the road leads on the aforementioned 'Enjoy the Ride', 'Ballad of a Broken Dream' is inspired by a real story, but is also an allegory for the toll that and struggle that many artists go through: Don't let the rhythm and catchy chorus fool you, the lyrics are razor sharp. 'Leave a Light On' is an up-tempo ballad dedicated to her husband for supporting her on her musical path.
After this impressive triptych, you wonder just where she will take us next. Fear not, there's no filler here, every track is a wonder and the album becomes more enjoyable with every listen. There are also new discoveries on the arrangements and lyrics with each visit.
Tucked away towards the end of the album is 'Let it Burn', which possibly is the real diamond in an album filled with bejewelled tracks. It's an astonishing deep cut that takes you by surprise for the sharp steer in terms of tone and Elles' powerhouse vocal performance.
Dan Weller's production is polished, but there's thankfully an absence of too much sheen that can make a studio album seem clinical. As a result, it has the warmth of a vintage recording and the kind of organic flow that comes from musicians who can work with each other effortlessly. Speaking of which, the exceptional band shines under Weller's production and has an ensemble sound rather than just underscoring the vocals. The arrangements are expressive and the backing vocals buoy the album, creating a strong and dynamic addition to Elles' naturally expressive and husky vocals.
'Beneath the Neon Glow' is an album that continues Elles winning streak and it’s an album that will certainly keep her in the spotlight.
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