Album Review: Paul Kelly - Spring And Fall

Although it seems like he's somehow always around one way or another, between books, documentaries and other vagaries of life it's actually five years since the last 'proper' Paul Kelly album. For Spring And Fall, he takes his music down to almost its purest form. Accompanied only by nephew Dan's complementary guitar and voice, and occasional quirky colours – dobro, rattly piano, jaw harp – from producer J. Walker (aka Machine Translations), it's an album of quiet conversations and confessions.

The subject matter makes it the most basic form of 'concept album', as a relationship waxes and wanes from the somewhat rose-coloured dreams of When A Woman Loves A Man, through fucking it up – literally and figuratively – with the temptation of the skin of Someone New, before the tide naturally ebbs out, as it so often does. As usual, the narrator – and most of us who've been on either side of such an event – are left leaving with the mixed feelings of Little Aches And Pains, this closing song rightly subtitled with the bracketed question of (Where Are You Roaming?).

It's Kelly's familiar emotional honesty delivered softly. Although, there's a range of moods from an almost irritating optimism early on, via the weaknesses and even the grumpy kiss-off of None Of Your Business Now, which includes the handy suggestion of, “go write a stupid song about it”. Walker's back shed production keeps it warm and personal, with little asides such as Sometimes My Baby's busted barn-dance waltz.

Spring And Fall is an album for grown-ups, with the sometimes bittersweet experiences and memories that most of us probably have – although we'd likely never be this articulate, revealing, or musical about them.