
Robin Kelly: Something Magical
By Amanda Mills
Doctor, author, speaker and musician – is there anything Robin Kelly can’t do? After releasing three albums since 1998, Kelly’s latest was recorded at Manuka Studios in Orewa and produced by multi-instrumentalist Mike McCarthy – keyboardist, percussionist and accordion player on the album. Themes of love and alchemy are prevalent here, but magic is, unfortunately, somewhat lacking. Kelly’s music veers from folk to rock to country, but his voice lets the album down, sometimes tuneless and too often passionless in delivering the lyrics in a monotone which is at odds with the often-jaunty music. The music is well executed, ballads like Forever Now having grace and elegance, and Coming Home Soon possessing a lively Victorian dancehall piano and accordion. There is enjoyment in the music, but not so in the lyrics or vocals, which let this album down.
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