Gallileo has a lot to answer for. His discovery centuries ago that the Earth is not the center of the
universe continues to have ramifications. Since then we have seen cultures, countries, cities and
communities adapt to this awareness and their connection to the rest of the planet. Creatively we
see scenes, sounds, and artists coming under influence from a wider and wider sphere, and on a
personal level we must confront our seemingly insignificant position in this vast world and
beyond.
Kelly Malone’s debut album, “Earth & Stars”, carries great significance through its subliminal
exploration of these themes. Songs like “Japan” and “Horses” could be arguments that the theory
of relativity is equally applicable in human relationships, while “You Ain’t Mine” and title track
“Earth & Stars” unravel the limits in one person’s point of view and compassionately implore them
to wake up. Yet Kelly’s music is intensely personal; even when she invokes the big picture it’s
always with an awareness and sensitivity to the emotions we all feel.
The creative journey that Kelly has taken can also be described through this Gallilean metaphor.
Her music has its roots in the rainforest village of Kuranda in Far North Queensland where she
spent countless hours playing with bands and solo before she moved to Melbourne’s beating
creative heart in 2000 and established the ubiquitous acoustic night at The Vineyard in St Kilda.
That leap wasn’t big enough, however. It was five years later when Kelly packed her bags and
headed to the northern hemisphere that her entire relationship with music was radically opened
up; unspoken limits and boundaries which were subliminally the norm in Australia were revealed
and dissolved.
“I started by playing a few little gigs in Brighton on the South Coast of the UK in 2005,” Kelly says,
“And what immediately hit me was seeing a much wider range of people responding to what I was
doing. The flipside is that I was likewise exposed to an incredible diversity of music and people. In
the space of a few days I’d see an acoustic night in a 300 year old pub, then a bass heavy freakout
at Fabric in London, then a nomadic brass band from India in a tent in a rural field! I’d see the
same circle of friends in all these different places, and people’s openness, appreciation and
appetite for this diversity was totally inspiring. My world was turned upside down in the best way.”
Her journey didn’t stop in the UK though. After more travels she played a gig in Reykjavik, Iceland,
in March 2007. Matt Robertson was in town arranging brass for Björk’s upcoming “Volta” world
tour. He was taken with Kelly’s music; the harmonic world she accessed through her own tunings
on guitar, her wide and angular melodic sense, and above all her clear, haunting, emotional voice.
Kelly and Matt began hatching plans to produce her album then and there.
The result (also produced with Mike Reed, Matt’s longtime musical partner) is a testament to
Kelly’s expanded outlook but also an honouring of her Australian roots. “At first I immersed
myself in everything that was different,” Kelly explains, “But over a few years that perspective and
distance helped me realise what is unique about my own home. I came to have a new appreciation
for Australia and what it has given me, and I’m buzzing to
bring back the things I’ve absorbed.”
Some people have said the album sounds like Joni
MItchell produced by Sigur Ros, or Gillian Welch in the
rainforest looking up at the night sky with Arvo Pært on
arrangements. Whatever you want to say, Kelly’s raw and
earthy songwriting, guitar and vocals have been
exquisitely framed with the organic subtlety and
otherworldly textures which are Matt and Mike’s
trademark. At times floating and impossibly delicate, at
others resonant, throbbing and pounding, the album
always remains iconic through its orchid-like melodies
and Kelly’s arresting delivery.
“Earth & Stars” is a celebration of change and endings, of
limits not overcome but rather transcended, a celebration
of the glorious possibilities that emerge through
heartbreak. Above all the record is an uplifting and
engaging document of one of Australia’s most talented
new artists standing firm on the creative ground she has
spent years establishing. It’s time to welcome her back
home.
...we went from Djerba (Tunis) to the snowy mountains of north-eastern Italy. We travelled from the desert to the deep freeze of the north during the last days of 2008, listening to music and collecting a huge amount of images. Here you are the final cut.
ahhh Kelly i get such gooze bumps hearing ur songs.. ..so many memories. ... still got all these mini disc recordings of us drinking wine and singing songs. timeless stuff. I hope to finish that Girl song with you sum time :) Very much anticipating ur album. Much love from Melbs xx
Hey hey hey it's Jimmy The Fingers! If you haven't seen this video please take a peek... This is me singing my song "Grace." If you buy one mp3 this year make it a jimmy! BUY NOW – CLICK HERE!!!!!
Kelly how are you/ where are you? I miss you and your music brings back so many warm fuzzy feelings.. .. Are you still planning on releasing that album? I hope so.. .. Justice needs to be made :) I may be cruisin over to Europa in a couple o' months... must catch up .. All the best xx
Hi Malone, Our debut album 'Hope Is Not Enough' has been nominated for the XFM New Music Award 2009. If you like it please click on the banner to vote for us. Thanks! Sam & rtP
Oh...false alarm. And the best jokes are about Adelaide. we just keep wondering where the Universe is going to take us....Elvie is beautiful. You must be so proud and happy to be her mumma. Enjoy :) What kind of camomile do you give her when she is sick? Just normal tea leaves or is it from the health food shop?
Hey honey how are you? Hows the family? Send big love to them. It's Indy here. The planes (F111)flew so close to the roof I almost fell over. Sheer intensity. Dan is in boy heaven as there are Indy cars, jets with fire coming out of them, Black hawk helicopters and because it is the Gold Coast, the "in" thing is to flash your boobs from the balcony - another plus for Dan and obviously something I am not doing! But it is lots of fun. You should stay one year for it. Dan makes his special fried rice. Love Amira xox
Dear friends, my elder bro Dima has made a page dedicated to our lo-fi studio “Happy Records” based in Kyiv, Ukraine, created for non-profit purposes. The focus of the studio work is producing indie artists we subjectively find interesting.
So please, find some time and listen to our friends’ music recorded by us at:
