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Shadowman-474-156.JPG "IMG 4790 (2)-474-156") -242-830.JPG "IMG 4735 (2)-242-830") “Shadowman, Robin Kelly’s sixth album release, remains very much the New Zealand songwriter’s album despite the cadre of five-star talent supporting him. ….”
Nomination “Indieshark Album of the Year”
Mark Druery. IndieShark. “His songs benefit from the presence of ace collaborators. Nigel Gavin accompanies
Kelly during both acoustic and electric tracks while vocalist Sonia Wilson’s talents
help make several great songs even better….. Robin Kelly’s sixth release will satisfy
any folk music fan, that’s for sure. It reaches further though. There is no reason in
the world why an open-minded listener cannot connect with the stories, emotions,
and experiences these thirteen tracks depict. Shadowman is not indistinct or
foreboding in any way; Robin Kelly’s music lives in the light.”
Chadwick Easton. Melody Maker Magazine. “Kelly’s songwriting is the highlight for me. The hushed redemptive qualities of the album opener “Sunrise” serve as an invaluable introduction for anyone new to his
work as its marriage of evocative instrumentation with significant lyrical detail is a
hallmark of his writing. It takes different forms during the course of Shadowman, but
the underlying aesthetic remains in place throughout…. genuine pathos are present
throughout his writing. Shadowman is an all-around satisfying effort and ranks
among Robin Kelly’s best work yet.”
Garth Thomas. The Hollywood Digest. “ “Our Last Valentine”, however, excels highest thanks to the ear-catching duet
between Kelly and Sonia Wilson….. Kelly’s collection is full of under the radar
ambition. He doesn’t announce it with bloated or otherwise epic arrangements. You
don’t hear any bluster in these songs until you listen deeper, take in the lyrics, and
appreciate his often commanding style in full. You don’t hear it until you notice the
subtle but steady orchestration of its texture, the lucid progression of its songs, and
the overall construction of his sixth album.”
Colin Jordan.
Full review: https://colin-jordan524.
“Shadowman opens with a trio of songs establishing the collection’s mastery of fundamentals above all else. “Sunrise”, however, has artful atmospherics, never
exaggerated, and the track has a well-rounded finish few songwriters in any genre
can achieve. “Good Morning, Captain Sir” is one of the album’s highlights. Kelly
highlights his narrative gifts in a handful of Shadowman’s songs and this will rate
high for many. The melody for this track is exquisite… We come into hearing
traditional music with a lot of preconceived notions but Kelly’s work shows superior
songwriting can overcome anything.”
Mindy McCall. IndiePulse Music.
Full review: https://indiepulsemusic.com/2022/04/05/robin-kellys-shadowland/
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