Ally Palmer releases debut album 'Need You Around'
Byron Bay based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ally Palmer today releases her debut album Need You Around as well as the single of the same name.
After touring Australia as a keyboardist for a number of different bands, Palmer made the decision to release her own music in 2016. She has since released two EPs and has performed at Bluesfest, leading up to the launch of her very first album.
The nine tracks on Need You Around cover love and loneliness and features a delicious soundscape of 1960s pop, soul, surfpop and a hint of jazz. It is a heartfelt, warm collection of music that has a magical, almost otherworldliness to it that is entrancing; familiar yet unusual.
Title track and new single ‘Need You Around’ has a groove straight from the 1960s mixed with the feeling of a smoky underground soul club. Palmer sings about her need to have her lover around to fend off an encroaching loneliness.
“The song ‘Need You Around’ happened unexpectedly,” Palmer says. “I love playing more groove-based songs on the piano and I just started playing the main groove to ‘Need You Around’ one day, not expecting it to turn into anything. After a few months, I noticed I couldn’t sit down at the piano without playing this groove. I loved the piano part I’d come up with so much, I realised I had to take it somewhere and turn it into a complete song.”
‘Walk Alone’ is another track that has an infectious 1960s groove to it and is the type of song that feels like you are experiencing a live performance from Palmer. Devoid of production fripperies, it is raw, authentic and just incredible as its frenetic beat slows down to Palmer vocals taking on a more measured tone to the accompaniment of drums and electric guitar.
Fifth track ‘Leave You Behind’ is an highlight on the album. Dealing with leaving a toxic relationship, Palmer’s vocal performance in reminiscent of a 1930s torch singer as she is surrounded by guitars and powerful backing vocals. The song builds and builds in intensity before reverting to an acoustic setting and gentle vocals from Palmer, with her repetition of key lyrics becoming absolutely hypnotic.
‘Ocean Swells’ is another album standout. Minimalist and ethereal, Palmer’s nuanced vocal dominates the track as guitar and gentle, almost unobtrusive, electronic beats ebb and flow in the background. It is a track that is beautiful in its simplicity and is utterly mesmerising.
The album ends with the uplifting ‘Keep the Light On’, which is dominated by piano and has touches of soul, folk and rock and is a reminder to never give up on your dreams: “I got dreams I’ve gotta chase / Don’t let it fade away” she sings.
Need You Around is quite simply a beautiful album that is overflowing with the feels. There is a warmth and a sincerity, as well a relatability, about Palmer’s music and her voice that resonates immediately. Her songs don’t follow a standard structure and always take intriguing and exhilarating sonic twists and turns that leave you attached to the very end. An album that holds up to revisiting over and over again, Need You Around is a special collection of music that you should have on your playlist right now. Both fuzzy and warm and perfect for winter evenings, as well as bright and cheerful for long summer days, it is everything you need to soundtrack your life. Press play now.
Need You Around is out now. You can download or stream here.
To keep up with all things Ally Palmer you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
