Steve Adey – All Things Real

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Author: MyVillage

Steve Adey – All Things Real

Release: Out now (through itunes)

Format: CD
Genre: Singer/ songwriter
Our Rating: 4/5

The intro to ‘All Things Real’ is a very soft, almost spiritual piece that slowly draws you floating into the body of the album. Immediately upon playing the effect of the music is to relax you utterly and to click your mindset to a more serene plane to fully appreciate the tracks to come. And while lured into this state of mind, Steve’s voice takes on a kind of resonance, helped by the fact that he possesses the kind of gravelly undertones that all good tortured songwriters should own, and it’s this tone that almost forces you to take an interest, but as it turns out, this can only be a good thing.

Steve Adey is a very softly spoken singer/ songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve, coupled with an understated but powerful voice that draws you slowly and almost unconsciously into his world. On the first few listens the effect of his music can pass you by, but after repeated listens the songs slowly begin to creep under your skin.

Steve’s cover of Bob Dylan’s, ‘Shelter from the Storm’ is such a track, it has a very simple, almost soporific strumming rhythm, slowed right down to expose every aspect of the much heralded Dylan original, but in this state the slowly enunciated lyrics add extra gravity to the song. Another song laden with emotion and depth is the track, ‘The Last Remark’, which is a vaguely sinister sounding track full of regret for what appears to be a doomed relationship. Not exactly good for a casual listen, but the accuracy and insightful nature of each track ensures that it can be an album to rely on under the right circumstances.

He obviously has a story to tell, and in using music to do so it easily endears you to the album as a whole. The pace of the record is suitably slow and introspective, maybe not so good as a summer album, but it may be good to settle down to the sombre tones in the winter months around a slowly burning fire. This is definitely an interesting body of work and provides a valid alternative to James Blunt et al, having said that Steve seems to have a style all of his own, his music isn’t just your standard whiny singer/ songwriter fluff, Steve actually seems to have a point. The album’s understated charm cannot fail to warm even the stoniest of hearts with its earnest and open lyrics. With this offering Steve has earned the right to play the Green Man Festival this year, and is definitely one that I’m going to keep my eye on in the future.

Review by Paul Walters

www.steveadey.com
http://www.myspace.com/adeymusic

MyVillage, 02nd May