The continual stream of high quality Canadian folk roots music
into the UK is no showing little sign of abating, with the latest artist to
have their profile raised on the right side of the pond being Ontario-based
singer-songwriter Jadea Kelly. Although CLOVER has been widely available for a few
months now, it is getting a more formal release at the end of November and this
renewed impetus will hopefully open a few doors in new markets for Jadea. Not
that this will be too difficult as she possesses a voice that pierces your
heart with an aching beauty and from start to finish the sublime sound of the
record melts effortlessly into your senses.
In this her third studio album, Jadea has successfully
weaved a slice of rural substance into a slick urban production to interpret a
truly stunning mix of traditional and contemporary influences. Jadea’s close family
connection with the land has had a substantial impact on the making of CLOVER, named
after her grandfather’s farm, and the raw talent honed on the great rural tradition
of communicating through song lays the foundation of the record. However what brings
the album to life is the Toronto production of Stew Crookes which takes the
sound to the very limit of an record with folk credentials, yet never sways
from the dedication to allow space for Jadea’s vocals to flourish.
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| Photo by Jen Squires |
The laid back opening chimes hook you into the stand out
track of the album as ‘Powell River’ sets
an incredibly high standard that the other ten songs make a valiant effort to
match. The vocal freedom that graces this collection will appease any winter’s
evening and brighten up this oncoming season of shortened days. The enchanting
and mesmeric ‘Wild West Rain’ leads
off the record and is the one track earmarked for promotion via the embedded
video available. The mid-section of the album sees a gradually intensifying of
the production with an enhanced beat and especially sees the guitar moving up a
notch on the lauded track ‘Hour North’.
Musically, Jadea has had some fairly diverse recent experiences
which have included working with Canadian folk legend Catherine MacLellan and a
Canadian metal band. It is fair to say the vibes of CLOVER sway more to the former
but this is far from a stereotypical folk record as exemplified by the synth
bass which pushes the potential of this album into more popular circles. If
this direction succeeds a whole new fan base will have a special voice to
treasure, either way the niche core market that fully appreciates this rare
talent will embrace the strands of beauty that yields from the soul of Jadea Kelly.
