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Simon Kelly



Last Updated: 12/17/2009

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Status: Single
City: Fremantle
Country: AU
Signup Date: 5/16/2006

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Thursday, September 24, 2009 

Category: Music
Whatever is in the water in Fremantle, it has spawned another Australian roots guru in Simon Kelly.  Kelly's third album, the aptly titled Gathering Tribes, gathers sounds from a variety of musical tribes with Caribbean reggae, rock riffs, accoustic fingerpicking and pop appeal just some of the most defining.

Produced by Alan Brey, who has also worked with Dakota Star, Lumiis and The Dirty Secrets, Gathering Tribes opens with the lead single and surefire festival favourite Darkness, easily the albums best example of Kelly's abillity to strum out feel-good summer tunes that warrant the frequent Jack Johnson comparisons.  With underpinning Caribbean rhythms and Kelly's smooth, mellow voice easing listeners into the chorus, Darkness, like the song's implicit metaphor, is as refreshing as the sun emerging on an overcast day.

On the second half of the album, Kelly waxes experimental taking a risk on The Truth, where heavy rock guitar alternates with Caribbean sway, and on Three Days, whose interlude is on the darker and more surreal moments in Kellys work and a highlight of the album.  While neither of these tracks are Kelly's trademark sound, the change-up goes down a treat and prevents the album from being just background beach vibes.

Like any good Freo boy though, Kelly always returns from his experimentation to what he most has a knack for - tunes that get anyone listening on their feet and doing the hippy sway.  So, pop this collection on as a musical offering to the Perth festival gods for weather worth its weight in summer ditties.

By Megan Smith, Drum Media sept 24
3:28 AM
 
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