The narrative may have given this record a big boost to get
the message out, but there is no denying that DYING STAR runs deep with
stand-alone qualities. Across the fourteen tracks that form the debut album
from Ruston Kelly there is sufficient tuneful content to keep you in the game
and demonstrate that you are in the midst of a performer ready to make a
splash.
Once the rugged persona takes grip, you embark on a virtual
road trip across dusty terrain and a nod to the trusty troubadours who have
trodden the wearisome path of song writing soul searching. This is music teetering
on the fault line where country meets folk meets tempered rock. Whilst engaging
most of the time, the ebb and flow nature does enter a midway lull suggesting
the message could have been transmitted in a more compact package than a lengthy
fifty-three minutes.
Like all records that tempt you into multiple pleasurable spins,
its opening gambit plays a winning hand with the decent combo of ‘Cover My Tracks’, ‘Mockingbird’ and ‘Son of a
Highway Daughter’ laying the groundwork effectively. The middle track of
this trio has set the pace in the album’s promotion race and possesses enough
memorable hooks to linger long after first listen. However, these three songs
eventually bow down to the track ‘Faceplant’,
which glistens at the album summit. A hint of Justin Townes Earle (well one his
songs anyhow) seeps out of this one to rack up the bonus points and supplement
the great melody that furnishes the composition.
A upside of this review overrunning the release date came in
the form of ‘Big Brown Bus’ manoeuvring
up the track rankings with a growing case to boost the record’s overall lasting
qualities. While the lull does take a slight hold in the latter stages, ‘Jericho’ pops up to revitalise the album
and ensure the credit column is heavily populated.
Enough steel and harmonica feature when you want it and a
general mid-tempo feel ensures the record can be a welcome side accompaniment
when you feel like a piece of contemporary Americana. Ruston Kelly’s song
writing skills may have had a fruitful past, but like other writers branching
out into the solo performing world, a little extra in the tank has been held
back to fuel a push to a bigger platform.
Without the narrative and association, DYING STAR would still
have made me sit up and take notice. It can take its place among the valuable
additions in the 2018 release gallery and is likely to canter along for a while
yet. More of Ruston Kelly will be certainly heard in the near future and he has
earned the right to take the plaudits for his debut album.