:: Paul Kelly & the Stormwater Boys - Foggy Highway

Paul Kelly & the Stormwater Boys

The album title ‘Foggy Highway’ complements the tone of this album which may well be described as bluegrass, yet Mr Kelly has offered up so much more here and indeed it seems unfairly limiting to try to categorise this release. Commercial success, years of touring and acclaimed songwriting have meant that he and bandmates have earnt an enormous deal of respect and plaudits in Oz ‘music circles’…few would disagree. So with this, his latest offering, but not his first foray into the more laid back, ethereal vibe, he may have produced one of his finest yet. The many fans of more celebrated artists of Ryan Adams and Wilco may do themselves a favour by investing some time with this ‘local’ album, that deals in themes of hardship, reward, struggle and loss…. However note: if there were an impassable bus on the foggy highway it is the inclusion of the duet with Kasey Chambers. On the whole, ‘Foggy Highway, with its joyous mandolins and fiddles, it’s singer/songwriter effortlessly name dropping his hometown, loving lo-fi shifts into minor keys and graceful harmonising make this album a fine collection of fables and anecdotes that will survive and bottle splendidly. All players on the album were plucked by Paul and gathered together to record the album on the Central Coast in a fortnight early 2005. It resonates a great deal like they had deserved fun, cherished the time together and made an Australian album few will probably own and many probably should.