Following a series of unequivocally absorbing EPs and singles, KEELEY finally release their debut album, the all consuming Floating Above Everything Else, an album which manages to be both heartbreaking in its divine beauty and grace and gloriously uplifting as you bathe in the warm textures of the multi-layered soundscapes helping to tell the story of the tragic backpacker Inga Maria Hauser, and keep her memory alive 35 years after her life was cruelly taken from her, a murder for which there has still been no-one charged. This album’s title surely reflects where this album is destined to be in many album of the year lists towards the end of 2023.
If you follow posts on this blog, the name Keeley Moss will not be new to you, the band’s lead singer, songwriter and guitarist has appeared several times on the Ginger Quiff and in reviews written for Louder Than War. I fell in love from the outset, hook, line and sinker for the music and importantly, the tale behind the music, by this most uniquely enthralling and engaging of artists. With each release you think you can’t possibly be more captivated and drawn into the world of Keeley and Inga Maria, what more can there be to write about? Then you hear Floating Above Everything Else and once more your tiny mind is blown by the sensitivity in the writing, the mellifluous gossamer smooth vocals and chiming soaring melodies that contain a warmth and fervour that is deserving of the stories told in the lyrics.
Within the songwriting, Keeley explores every part of Inga’s tale, as well as writing her own lyrics, using extracts from her diaries. The songs not only tell Inga Maria’s tale with a respectful sensitivity, Keeley laments what could have been, but also celebrates the joy experienced by Inga Maria in her all too short life. Keeley has a steely determination that Inga Maria will NEVER be forgotten, continuing to campaign for justice in her case, and writing songs to keep her memory alive, front and centre, living on in spirit, if not in body. Never Here, Always There is a case in point. Inga Maria never actually reached her destination, but will remain in Keeley’s heart, and now also in the heart of those who have come to the music of KEELEY. Such is the raw emotion, passion and personal nature of these songs, it’s sometimes hard to remember that Keeley and Inga Maria never actually met.
The music that accompanies the songs is also the result of another of Keeley’s passions, the love for indie bands of the 1980’s and 90’s, the music of KEELEY is spellbinding as she blends elements of shoegaze and jangly indie guitars into her bewitching dream pop, irresistibly tantalising the eardrums while painting vivid pictures in the mind with her lyrics, transporting you to another place and time. Try not to be wholly enveloped in the seductive charm and profound beauty of Totally Entranced.
Seeing Everything draws you in from the off with its lyrical lilting guitars, positively chiming with arresting charm and interspersed with reverberating twanging riffs as Kelley sings of “seeing everything as you would” as she wonders what should have been. Arrive Alive adds another layer to the mix, channelling Wedding Present-esque riffs, taking Inga Maria’s story as inspiration and reflecting on life as the lyrics explore the journey’s we are all on “for all we drive, do we ever arrive?”.
The album is a collection of new songs, alongside a couple singles from earlier EPs, including second single, the dazzling thrill ride that is the addictive earworm of Glitter and the Glue. Floating Above Everything Else soars and swoops as Keeley reflects on a friendship that never was “we would have been friends, I’m convinced of that if nothing else”. To a London Sunrise is affecting in both the lyrics, written based on extracts from Inga Maria’s diaries, and the delicately effervescent and radiantly beatific guitars. The affecting melodies continue into the closing track of side one, which also introduces the theme of later song Never Here, Always There.
The tempo is raised as side two bursts into life, the driving energy and thunderous drums reflecting the anger and rage in the lyrics “in the trees, cowards in a car, L——, never behind bars” but also displaying a certain defiance. You may have taken her life but her spirit will live on forever – “Forever’s where you are”. The aforementioned Never Here, Always There really tugs at the heartstrings as Keeley laments the fact that Inga Maria never reached Ireland, her dream destination, the theme continuing into the electronic piano/synth based You Never Made it That Far, continuing to wonder why Inga got into a strangers car, and ruminate on the future that never happened as a result.
The penultimate song on the album is the final Keeley penned song here, and it does exactly what the title says. It feels like Totally Entranced takes some of its influence from the music of the band whose song follows it. As it is, the song is as totally entrancing, the enchantingly sirenic vocal complementing the elegantly sublime musicianship perfectly.
The album closes with an inspired and divinely ethereal take on Spiritualized’s Shine a Light, the heavenly melody and lyrics matching the mood and subject matter of the album perfectly, its as if Jason Pierce wrote the lyrics especially for the album. The uplifting singing layered guitars build in a glorious crescendo rising to the heavens, before Keeley’s crisp clear voice breaks through, changing Jason’s lyric from Lord to you, before fading again to reveal the tumultuous crescendo of layered guitars and sublime backing vocals, before they also gently fade to reveal the real emotional sucker punch closing out the album, the only way it could end really, with the gentle angelic voice of Inga Maria singing Both Sides Now. If that doesn’t hit you straight in the heart, then you have no soul.
Floating Above Everything Else is the pinnacle of KELLEY’s recorded output so far, I hope her inspiration never wanes, and there is more to come from this seemingly infinite well of talent, but more importantly I hope that the justice that has so far evaded Keeley in her campaign is served.
If there are any Glasgow based promoters reading this, we need to bring KEELEY to Glasgow, any help would be much appreciated… Thank you.
Follow The Keeley Chronicles HERE
KEELEY website