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Album Review: Rory Ellis - Two Feathers
Review by Danny Crombie - November 17, 2009
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I've just finished listening to the utter brutality of Black Asylum and now here I am with the soft opening chimes of the Hammond organ in Rory Ellis' new album Two Feathers.
Rory Ellis has a voice that somewhat resembles Isaac Hayes doing Kermit, its soulful and different to most, and in the music business an instantly recognisable voice can play a big part in your success.
Lyrically Ellis can paint a picture with ease and tell one hell of a story. He's a bluesman in the truest sense, a man who constantly travels and tells stories along the way. A lot of people in this vague genre will easily fail due to crap lyrics.
The record is very easy to listen to and would slot perfectly into my music collection but the exact location is a hard one to actually decide on, as the music shifts between soul, blues, country and folk and each tune is extremely refreshing to hear.
Work is my favourite song which sounds like a gypsy folk tune conjured in Romania and perfected in the Deep South. Ellis sounds like a voodoo shaman and the song could be a Screamin' Jay Hawkins original if he wasn't so scared to let himself go.
All in all the record is pretty strong. In every record there are some songs you don't get but that's more of a matter of taste I reckon. Some of the songs come up a bit soppy at times but you can forgive Ellis as his aim is certainly earnest.
While this album won't make Triple J's top 10 it is still a seriously good new Aussie album and Ellis is the kind of guy who will show up at a pub near you when you least expect it so go and give him a shot.
© Danny Crombie
