A showcase for a remarkable voice of modern blues.
Elles Bailey has come a long way in the last decade. Over this relatively short period, she has managed to consolidate an enviable career with tours alongside classic artists such as Don McLean or Van Morrison, top spots in the UK Blues Chart, three ‘Artist of the Year’ wins at the UK Blues Awards, and an induction into the UK Blues Hall of Fame in 2023. An amazing journey considering her debut studio album “Wildfire” only came out in 2017 (sorry to confirm that was indeed almost ten years ago). After releasing a string of records with Outlaw Music, Bailey now releases her second album with Cooking Vinyl: “You Can’t Take My Story Away”.
Some of the songs on her most recent record can be traced back almost to the start of her career, offering a variety of stories that touch upon different moments and aspects of her life. Among other things, universal themes such as relationships, ambition, mental health, success and failure. However, centre stage is Bailey’s characteristic husky voice, rich and versatile as always. There’s an undeniable strength in her delivery, and part of this power comes from the courage to show vulnerability in glimpses of the person behind the performer.
For the recording of her new album, Bailey teamed up with a new lineup of musicians separate from her normal touring band. There’s a great variety of styles and influences to unpack, tied together by Bailey’s unflagging vocal prowess. “You Can’t Take My Story Away” contains both radio-friendly anthems like ‘Growing Roots’ or the energising ‘Take a Step Back’ (with its incredible percussive section) and more laid-back tracks such as ‘Dandelions’, which offers glimpses into Bailey’s personal experiences. Throughout, there are interesting arrangements tastefully intertwined (special mentions to the guitar tracks on ‘Growing Roots’ and ‘Better Days’, or the groove of ‘Angel’, crowned by its soulful brass section).
In some of the more dynamic songs, the lyrics seem only a means of giving shape to the pure emotions expressed by Bailey’s voice, rather than ideas that are later performed with corresponding feeling. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the instances in which a more personal approach is taken show that Bailey’s individual perspective is nuanced and highly appealing. Because even if the concepts put forth are simple, there are interesting ideas to be found among the best of her lyrical work, straying from the generic formulas of other tracks. Take, for instance, the mystery lurking behind her creative drive:
“There’s a constant need to get going
I don’t know where to go”
It’s the curse of consolidated artists to constantly be expected to be at the top of their game. Still, Bailey has proven over the years she has it in her to deliver top-of-the-game material. With “You Can’t Take My Story Away”, she’s sure to please old fans and continue to draw new admirers.
