The BellRays - Hard,Sweet and Sticky

Mon 17th Mar, 2008 in Music Reviews

In their newest release Hard, Sweet and Sticky, The BellRays prove they are accomplished musicians. Winners of the 2006 – œbest international live act’ award from Drum Media/In Press, Lisa Kekula, Bob Venuum, Tony Fate and Ray Chin cohesively defy genre, taking influences from punk, jazz, soul, funk, blues and alternative rock.

The album starts out with a pretty heavy – œ90s alt-rock vibe a la Melissa Etheridge. As the songs go on, more and more styles emerge, and the band deftly moves between them. The soulful Blue Against the Sky is proof these guys know not to drown out Kekula’s stunningly unrestrained voice. The effect is mellow yet energised. Fate’s guitar is a bluesy, jazzy icing on the melodic cake.

They manage to keep a solid, boisterous energy throughout the album, even on the slower tracks, proving that you can be mellow and moody without being boring. Wedding Bells is melancholy and metaphor-laden. Hints of jazz peek out behind moody guitars and sliding bass lines. This is a song that grows on you, and embeds itself under your skin. Kekula moans and whispers and pours her words out on the floor. The song slips and slides to a heavy close.

Footprints on the Water emerges as a radio-friendly star track. The funky intro opens up into sweet sounding guitar and jangling tambourine. Suddenly I’m driving down the highway with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. The vocals are uplifting and the bridge is a heavy Motown surprise. A soulful chorus-backed finish wraps things up with a nice sense of unity.

The tone turns sensual in The Fire Next Time, and Kekula’s voice takes on a darker, more mysterious sound. They should remember, however, that you can’t rely on mood to pull you through a song. This whammy-ridden number gets old fast. Good thing there are plenty other tracks to turn to.

Since 1993, The BellRays have gone from an R&B duo to a four-piece rock outfit. Hard, Sweet and Sticky is a solid new addition for a band whose repertoire is constantly evolving.