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This first solo outing for this former band front-woman, though, is not a continuation of that; it is purely about being female, from the perspective of a grown woman, who needs to share her view of femininity with the outside world. This is a finely crafted album, even though the guitar jangle is not present in any of these twelve songs. Kelley has a voice that takes each song in a gentle grasp, and gently shakes out the meaning of the words and phrases (mainly her own), and thus does not require any further emphasis, or focal point. With the aid of people like producer Don Dixon (who worked with the astroPuppies during their recording career) and percussionist Jim Brock, who between them provide key backing and support, she is able to let her voice quietly dominate the music, and for these songs it works perfectly. Two tracks from the end, she covers Beck’s “Lost Cause”, and there’s a fragility in her voice as she sings, with little accompaniment, and it threatens to cave in at any moment. Her own “Beautiful Child” follows to close the album, a fitting track, cosseted with a variety of strings that let you know she is not going to crack up after all. “We live and die by love” is the last line she wrote, and it really sounds as if she has written, in her case, no truer words before or since. A fitting climax to this gracious piece of music. |
