Robert Ellis (from the album Yesterday’s News

Robert Ellis (from the album Yesterday’s News

Robert Ellis (from the album Yesterday’s News available on Niles City Records) (by Danny McCloskey)
Robert Ellis polishes his songs with a subtle simplicity for the delivery of Yesterday’s News, his recent release. Album opener “Gene” is intimate, the listener overhearing a deep personal conversation. Robert Ellis’ voice is strong, driven by a whisper and propelled with the passion of a true believer. Yesterday’s News is a sonic sibling to a previous release from Robert, The Lights from the Chemical Plant (2014). Both albums musically soundtrack an acoustic instrumentation that features Jazz chords and bass lines accented with guitar work that blends Blues, Latin, and late-night Jazz wandering riffs. The title track is a reverie while Yesterday’s News steps lightly over a tangle of notes in “Out of the Woods”, urges “Wait” on a mournful melody, and follows a dreamlike tinkle of chimes that wrap advice in a lullaby in “Close Your Eyes”.
 
Not needing a RIYL like claim with for Robert Ellis’ branded musicality, Yesterday’s News, nonetheless, has an equal in Joni Mitchell’s album Blue. Both present songs as studies in mood and emotion, the playing sparse, the few instruments providing a sound that engulfs without overwhelming, becoming one with the story line to raise the quiet power of its tracks. World weary strums trudge into “Better Tomorrow” as Robert Ellis seeks escape from troubles in sleep while notes sparkle on a dark swirl highway song for “On the Run”. (by Danny McCloskey)
 
Listen and buy the music of Robert Ellis from AMAZON
 
For more information, please visit the Robert Ellis website