Nightsounds is Lee Kelm's second CD, and contains 14 original tracks. Kelm wrote the music to each and the lyrics to all but one, which was written by his daughter Kristin. Three are guitar instrumentals: the tender and passionate "Jenna's song," the upbeat, almost flamenco-style "The Centipede" (which evokes a picture of the creature wondering which leg to begin with and then finding its scurrying stride) and the quietly introspective "Sometimes in the Morning."

Kelm is an accomplished guitarist and singer-songwriter with a pleasant voice well suited to his "new-folk" style songs. The opening track has a relentless pace to the playing, hounding the poor fellow who is the subject of the song, "Mass Confusion, he's right on track/One step forward and two steps back." After this somewhat pessimistic beginning, he does a one-eighty with the encouraging "You Can."

The title track is a gentle mood-setter, a 3-D sketch of the author looking onto a moonlit landscape, city lights adding a warm glow, sounds filtering through the window of trains and boats at work, while he becomes aware of the sound of the bedroom clock and the heartbeat of a loved one.

The powerful lyrics to "Mother Nature's Call" vividly encapsulate the feeling of seeing and experiencing a wild storm, but I felt that he missed an opportunity to evoke more of the storm within the music. The nostalgia-ridden "Friday Nights," reminiscing shamelessly through rose-coloured lenses about high school days, will probably strike chords of memory within a certain age group. He remains in similar pensive mood with "Blessed," exhorting us not to pity the man who hasn't travelled and experienced the wonders away from his hometown, as he is content with the pleasures of home and family. Within this town, however, not everybody is happy with their lot; "Charlie's Lament" is the unfortunate tale of a disillusioned man's descent into alcoholism.

Kristin's uplifting lyrics in "Never Alone" offer salvation; even though life is not necessarily fair or happy, it is made better by a hopeful attitude and a belief in angels. There is some nice finger work on "Cascade -- It's Alright," the first part being instrumental, then flowing into a real-life love song explaining that opposites and differences are all right because of love and acceptance. I felt this would lend itself well to a male and female duet, though it would perhaps detract from the integral clarity and simplicity.

There's a wryly amusing observation on people's tendency to judge by looks, the focus being a decrepit Oldsmobile; formerly top of the line, now causing paranoiac drivers to search for alternate parking spaces for fear that rust is contagious! These lyrics can be taken at face value or can be considered as metaphor for the shallow attitudes of modern life. "On The Shore" closes the album, rejoicing in the bonds of friendship and the beauty of nature.

Nightsounds is an easygoing, enjoyable album. Nothing grates on the ears, and the harsher social commentaries in a couple of tracks are virtually smothered by the feel-good vibes of the majority. "Jenna's Song" and "Never Alone" are its highlights for me. Kelm is a competent musician, with a particular gift for lyrics. Doubtless he will continue to gain popularity with a growing and appreciative audience.

- Rambles
written by Jenny Ivor
published 15 February 2003

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