Fever Longing Still
Gawd Aggie/Cooking Vinyl, 2024
9/10
The Australian legend Paul Kelly ends 6 years without a new album here, and it brings us more of his timeless pop and rock songs that have made him globally revered.
The energetic “Houndstooth Dress” starts the listen with Kelly’s expressive voice and piano alongside Bill McDonald’s intricate bass, and “Love Has Made A Fool Of Me” follows with Ashley Naylor’s mesmerizing electric guitar amid Kelly’s gritty pipes that sets a distinct mood.
Closer to the middle, “Northern Rivers” welcomes Cameron Bruce’s well timed keys and a slight jangle that carries a dreamy quality, while “Harpoon To The Heart” comes with a dance floor demeanor that uses Nick Atkinson’s sax prowess and Reb Fountain’s inimitable voice for the album highlight.
Landing close to the end, “Eight Hours Sleep” is a soft, intimate moment of harmony vocals and gentle acoustic guitar, and “Going To The River With Dad” exits with Dan Kelly’s mandolin and Peter Luscombe’s drums adding much richness and coziness.
Now 29 albums deep, Kelly just finished his first ever stadium tour, and there’s little doubt he made plenty of new fans and will continue to thanks to these universally relatable songs that will appeal to fans between Springsteen and Costello.
Travels well with: Hoodoo Gurus- Chariot Of The Gods; Paul Kelly- Paul Kelly’s Christmas Train