« The Stylist », Kelley Stoltz’s 17th album finds him following up the Third Man Records reissue of his 2001 « Antique Glow », with a collection of 10 new songs. The album was recorded early in 2021, and has been languishing in the vinyl pressing log jam ever since – but luckily Stoltz writes timeless songs, the kind that might’ve appeared on the fringes of the late 60’s or mid 80’s.
Acoustic guitars, synthesizers, drum machines and strong melodies abound. As with his other classic records « Below the Branches », « Double Exposure » and « Ah! (etc) » Stoltz plays most of the instruments himself and records in his home studio in San Francisco. Kelley says, « I chose the title ‘the Stylist’ because musically I guess that’s what I am… because of the way I write, at my leisure over a period of months at home, I kinda flit around between styles. It’s all in the pop-rock vein, but there’s usually a wide range of sounds and inspiration from song to song. It sort of fits together in a mix tape kind of way, rather than an exploration of one particular mood. That’s always been the case with my albums. »
The chorus-y guitar jangle of « Your Name Escapes Me » somehow name checks the New Bomb Turks, while reflecting on familiar if forgotten faces from Stoltz’s past. On « My Island » insistent piano and saxophone solos take the listener on a tropical trip to the soft rock radio dial.
Stoltz played rhythm guitar in Echo & the Bunnymen for a few years, and « We Grew
So Far Apart » clangs like a lost Liverpool 80’s classic. Stoltz says, « There’s a touch more piano on this record… going back to my Sub Pop days, when I was writing more Beatle-y bits… Harry Nilsson… that kind of thing. » Indeed, the piano led « It’s a Cold World » plays like a holy union of Todd Rundgren and the Zombies where Stoltz declares, « it’s a cold world at times, but I’m not ready to give up the fight. »
Thankfully, after 23 years the beat goes on… and no matter what style Stoltz chooses, « The Stylist » is another platter of tuneful delight in the impressive catalog of one of the great songwriters of our time.
Tour dates below :
04/07/22 – UK – Salford – BBC 6 Marc Riley Show
05/07/22 – UK – Manchester – Retro – Tickets
06/07/22 – UK – Winchester – The Railway Inn – Tickets
07/07/22 – UK – Ramsgate – Ramsgate Music Hall – Tickets
08/07/22 – UK – London – The Lexington – Tickets
09/07/22 – UK – Isle of Wight – Rhythmtree Festival – Tickets
10/07/22 – UK – Bristol – Crofter’s Rights – Tickets
11/07/22 – UK – Cardiff – The Moon – Tickets
12/07/22 – UK – Chester – St Mary’s Creative Space – Tickets
13/07/22 – UK – Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club – Tickets
14/07/22 – UK – Newcastle – The Cluny – Tickets
15/07/22 – UK – Glasgow – Pop Mutations Festival – The Flying Duck – Tickets
16/07/22 – UK – Liverpool – Jimmy’s – Tickets
18/07/22 – UK – London – Rough Trade Showcase – Tickets
19/07/22 – UK – Ipswich – The Smokehouse – Tickets
20/07/22 – FR – Paris – La Station – Tickets
22/07/22 – FR – Binic – La Super Cathédrale – Tickets
23/07/22 – FR – Binic – La Super Cathédrale – Tickets
26/07/22 – FR – Bordeaux – Relache – Tickets
27/07/22 – SP – Zaragoza – La Lata de Bombilas – Tickets
28/07/22 – SP – Madrid – Clamores – Tickets
29/07/22 – SP – Oviedo – Tiempos Nuevos – Tickets
30/07/22 – SP – Gijon – El Tizon – Tickets
