San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Kelley Stoltz, a living legend and musical hero in our world, returns with yet another full-length album, La Fleur. On LP no. 18, we hear 12 new psychedelic indie pop songs with melodies and hooks in the first-class quality we’ve come to expect, with all instruments played by the master himself (and of course it’s also his hazy voice that you hear singing), assisted here and there by Jason Falkner and Fred Barnes. Lyrically, the songsmith stayed close to his own experiences, from riding around Manchester in the car of Stone Roses drummer Alan ”Reni” Wren (“A black BMW // Hope to impress you” – in Reni’s Car) to advising his daughter to live in the moment (“You’re too young to know // About time // Doesn’t do any good / Pay it no mind” – in About Time). What makes this record extraordinary, however, is that each track is peppered with its own unique decoration, from subtle orchestration or unexpected instrumentation to almost doo-wop-like harmonies or spacey sound effects. It makes for an exciting trip that captivates for the entire 44 minutes and 19 seconds.
La Fleur is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Agitated Records (Europe/UK) and Dandy Boy Records (USA).
Add to wantlist: Agitated @ Bandcamp || Dandy Boy @ Bandcamp