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Album Details

• Artist: Kelley Stoltz
• Album: Below The Branches
• Label: Sub Pop/Three Gut
• Year of Release: 2006
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dadair on 2006-02-02

The San Franciscan tunesmith; Kelley Stoltz utilises his thought provoking and polished style to build up emotion and passion, with an underpinning of bolstering blues to follow upon on his earthy previous album ‘Antique Glow’. The commanding and brisk vocal touch that brings to mind Ian McCulloch and Steve Harley in their prime, stands out early on in the laid back, yet troubled ballad; ‘Little Lords’. The upbeat pop side of Kelly gushes out in the heart warming and slow building; ‘Ever Thought of Coming Back’ whereby, he is impelled by the courage of his convictions to give off a stoic vibe.
A wistful feel hangs over proceeding like February fog, often manifesting itself via slow and slightly eerie acoustic guitars as well as a wispy, almost Stuart Murdoch vocal range propelled via; ‘Words’. Before you start worrying, it is not a Bee Gees cover, although it does contain that touch of tenderness associated with them.
Stoltz is quite resplendent in his musical philosophising that centres on the theme of noticing the world outside you, as ‘The Sun Comes Through’ aptly illuminates. The broad talent of this artist is uncovered with the utilisation of a variety of self-played instruments including a toy xylophone. A one man The Beatles offering ‘Winter Girl’ keeps the album colourfully ticking along nicely towards the end, ensuring that the attention of the listener never wonders away from his compelling melodies.

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