Kelly Jones – Inevitable Incredible

If the primary objective for ‘Inevitable Incredible’, the new solo album from Kelly Jones is to ‘make music like filmmakers make films’, then it’s safe to say it’s mission accomplished. His second solo album is the epitome of a cinematic odyssey that feels all-encompassing and is highly evocative of a film score approach.

17 years after his first solo venture ‘Only The Names Have Changed’, Kelly has stripped everything back and has undergone a real sonic evolution which takes the listener on an invigorating and emotive journey through eight enthralling tracks.

The Stereophonics frontman has stated that this album and it was something he never intended to create saying that “I didn’t plan to write an album. It wrote me.”

Thank goodness he did as this is a more evolved and stripped back sound. Kelly is clearly in a ruminative mood and for this album has dug deep. Whilst he has never been a stranger to emotive storytelling, ‘Inevitable Incredible’ really resonates and is a poignant and introspective exploration of his musicality and composing skills.

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The album explores new sonic territories and feels cinematic thanks to the piano-led expansive sound which effortlessly captures the wildness and remoteness of his surroundings at the remote Ocean Sound studio in Norway. 

You can hear the swirling wind on the eponymous title track which is the perfect combination of hope and reflection with lines like ‘‘hope the sun comes up again’ thoughtful yet optimistic. The opening track really sets the tone and the concept of the album and showcases how the setting and the material are in perfect harmony and captures the intimate atmosphere of Kelly’s most emotional and brutally honest material to date.

Despite having one of the most instantly recognisable and powerful voices in rock, ‘Inevitable Incredible’ sees Kelly at his most vulnerable. From the sublime ‘Time’s Running Away’ to the soaring ‘Echowrecked’, you feel like you have been on a journey with Kelly. It’s brutally haunting, honest and is a sophisticated and visceral body of work.

8/10

Words: Emma Harrison

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