Brian Eley & Ashley Wales: Songs

Brian Eley and Ashley Wales both have impressive histories with other musicians, which makes this duo album, Songs, fascinating. In the 70's Eley was a member of the vocal quartet Voice, alongside esteemed vocalists Julie Tippett, Maggie Nicols and Phil Minton, which recorded the album Voice (Ogun 1977). In London, in 1993, Wales and John Coxon formed the delightfully named duo Spring Heel Jack which released a varied spectrum of music from Lee Perry to "The Sound of Music," taking in live performances and/or recordings with such luminaries as Han Bennink, Tim Berne, Evan Parker, William Parker, Matthew Shipp and Wadada Leo Smith... eclectic indeed. 

Despite the album title, "Songs," there is no recognisable singing on it, but there are extensive vocal recitations by Eley, of lyrics written by himself. Eley and Wales are both well-established members of the London Improvisers' Orchestra. In 2022, as he often does, Wales conducted the London Improvisers' Orchestra, including Eley, who recited when Wales signed for him to do so. Eley's voice on "Songs" is the centre of attention, with Wales adding background sounds which are ideally suited to Eley's voice and his lyrics. Eley song titles such as "this love," "not through with you yet" and "what am I to you" indicate a romantic air runs through the album, to the extent that one wonders if it was released in time for Valentines Day. If not, it deserves to be reissued and/or re-promoted every February... 

The album's thirteen tracks vary in duration from one minute to seven and three-quarters minutes, a total of about thirty-four minutes for the full album. Heard altogether, the ingredients make gripping, atmospheric listening, thanks to the accompaniment from Wales plus subtle contributions from other guests who are thanked in the sleeve notes—guitarist John Bissset, John Coxon (of course...), keyboardist Steve Beresford, and Irish vocalist Christine Tobin.

Listening to Songs, one is repeatedly reminded of the strong symbiotic relationship that has existed between music and poetry for centuries, to the benefit of both art forms. This album makes compelling listening and it will do for many years to come. Enjoy it.