​Paul Kelly (from the album Fever Longing Still

​Paul Kelly (from the album Fever Longing Still

​Paul Kelly (from the album Fever Longing Still available on Cooking Vinyl Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)

Australia and other Down Under domains often take secondary standing when compared to the better-known musical capitols such as L.A., London, Nashville, Austin, New York, and the various other musical hot-spots where musicians traditionally take root, and subsequently spreads to audiences worldwide.  Artists like Crowded House, Kasey Chambers, Neil and Tim Finn, and the initial incarnation of Little River Band proved the Aussies had earned the right to be included as purveyors of popular music thanks to a distinctive sound and style all their own.
 
Paul Kelly is another of those artists who can be considered responsible for upholding that image, courtesy of his 29 albums and a career that extends back nearly four decades. His new album, Fever Longing Still, marks his first new collection in six years, not counting the various compilations that have helped to reinforce his status as a remarkable Singer/Songwriter worthy of international repute. Recorded in tandem with longtime collaborators — Peter Luscombe (drums), Bill McDonald (bass), Dan Kelly (guitar), Cameron Bruce (keys), and Ash Naylor (guitar) — it comes across as more of a band effort overall, thanks in part to the steady pacing of songs such as “Houndstooth Dress”, “Love Has Made a Fool of Me”, “Taught By Experts”, and “Let’s Work It Out In Bed” in particular. 
 
As evidenced by several of those aforementioned song titles, Paul Kelly possesses a certain sardonic wit that manages to find a creative mesh which binds sentiment and sarcasm in equal measure. His songs are always profoundly engaging, and whether opting for a jaunty reprieve, as per “Hello Melancholy, Hello Joy”, the easy caress of “Harpoon to the Heart”, or the arched enthusiasm of “All Those Smiling Faces”. Even when Kelly relies on a simple strum, as on “Back to the Future”, the mix of tenderness and tenacity is clearly in evidence. 
 
The fact that the album title is lifted from a work by William Shakespeare, one of Paul Kelly’s literary idols, testifies to the fact that his reputation for literacy, emotional expression, and an everyman sensibility is what makes his music relatable and affecting. This fever can be considered contagious. (by Lee Zimmerman)  
 
Listen and buy the music of Paul Kelly from AMAZON
 
Please visit the Paul Kelly website for more information