Reviews

Artist:Ellis Delaney
Album: Ordinary Love
Label: Hudson Harding
Tracks: 12
Website: https://www.ellisdelaney.com/

"Ordinary Love" is an album of sub-4 minute 'Summery' songs of love and life that embraces some wonderful imagery, while simultaneously but gently pointing a finger at humanity that we should wake up to some of the things that are wrong with the world around us. The world seems full of division and polar opposites when most of us yearn for a spirit of peace and compromise, because we know that's the way it has to be.

The songs on this, her tenth studio album, are delivered with a Linda Ronstadt silkiness in the voice, because 'Ellis' as Ellis Delaney was formerly known, has one of those rare voices you could listen to for hours without getting remotely tired of it. Her messages are never preachy. They just talk about life and love as it is. "If you looked up the definition of open hearted in the dictionary, you might just find her photo in there" (Goldenrod Music)

Delaney was born in Texas, moving to Minneapolis when she was 16. There she seems to have found her 'Twin Cities' community. It is from that community that she drew many of the musicians who contribute to this album: Ellis Delaney (acoustic guitar), Mychael Gabriel (electric guitar), Adam Levy (electric guitar), Liz Draper (bass), Tony Axtell (bass), Karla Colahan (violin), Olivia Hahn (cello), Richard Medek (drums, percussion), Marc Anderson (drums, percussion), the 'Give Get Sistet',(Desdamona, Ruby, Sally Barris (all variously on backing vocals), and Steve Kaul (bass synth) who he also co-produces with Ellis and Terri Delaney.

The opening song, "The Finest Adventure", begins simply with Delaney's vocal and finger picked guitar, somehow reflecting those simple moments and pleasures of life that this album so conveys. Subtle cello and violin accompaniment enhances the reflective mood and sets the tone for the whole work: 'be in love with your life child'. "I Think About You" is a story of loving someone you perhaps shouldn't, perhaps remembering sweet moments of a broken relationship?

The title track "Ordinary Love" has single quality about it. It's a celebration of love in the doing: 'we are magic in the making we are making magic happen' emphasising the simplicity of love. "Bird on a Wire" reminds us that life goes on anyway in spite of its ups and downs, and that while things may often seem bigger than us, they are often so simple to understand if we care to play our part in improving them. The song has an absolute earworm chorus and bemoans humankind's abuse of the planet.

"Start Where You Are" is one of two solo songs on the album, and encourages optimism out of broken love: 'tears are like rain inside of bigger skies". On the one hand, it feels like one of those 'there are plenty more fish in the sea' platitudes, but on the other hand it reminds us that no matter how bad things may get you can always find a way to brush yourself down and stand tall, warning that 'loving can break your heart but fear can do you in'. I've never really been a fan of vibrato in the voice because it's often overdone, but Ellis is one of those singers who gets it right, never over-using the technique and here using it like you would use an accompanying instrument.

"Pie For Breakfast" is about having the courage to bending rules, so freeing the spirit: 'how do we break free to see the lighter side of the way things are?' The is terrific imagery in the lyrics which remind us we are small dots in a big world but individually we can all do something to make it a better place. "You Got This" is a tale about growing up from the perspective of a girl who's been there. It describes the joy of a parent watching the development of a child, with some of its accompanying heartache: 'this is her journey and I'll be right here' sends the strong message to the child that they should never feel alone, and perhaps points to the writer's own experience of growing up.

"Happy Life" is co-written with Sally Barris who also provides backing vocals. The song tells how you are in control of your own life no matter how it may feel. The grass isn't greener on the other side, and it's important to learn to appreciate what you have. It's a similar message to Stephen Stills' 'Love the One You're With'. "Paper Wings" is one of my two standout songs on the album, fragility of life and love somehow being evoked by the cello accompaniment. It carries a similar message to the previous song about appreciating the constancy of love, and as such is something of an ode to love.

"Somebody Misses You" is the second song co-written Sally Barris, and portrays the strength of mother-daughter love: 'when you sleep under the stars I'll hold you in my hearts because somebody misses you tonight'. "Now is the Time" asks the very simple question, why should we not feel safe in our community places? This is a brilliant piece of political writing, passionately delivering the message that it's way beyond time the people of the US found a find a way to combat the gun lobby who are disturbing the fabric of a peaceful society. This is my second personal stand out song, a reminder that even the most difficult issues can be within our own control.

"Better Angels" concludes the album and is a reminder that we are part of something bigger, a recurring message that we can learn from the past because the past has the experience we do not: 'like the dark before the dawn can we see all we've become'.

For me, "Ordinary Love" is about the lyrics more than the music, but the music provides its perfect backdrop. This album is about the important messages behind the songs. Writing about love can be difficult but this is a recognition of the simplicity of love. It 'celebrates the beauty of everyday living' (quoting from Ellis Delaney's Bandcamp page). Listening to this album several times has been an uplifting, empowering experience that I would urge you all to know.

John Reed

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