Lucy Kiely
4 stars
Reviewed by Barry O’Sullivan
If you’re seeking to rekindle the romantic memories you have from your last trip to the villages and ports of the Southern Italian coast, then this album will get you started. Sydney vocalist and songwriter Lucy Kiely, who is now happily ensconced, physically and musically, in that region, delivers on her latest recording of eight original love songs, drawing inspiration from the landscape and summer lifestyle of her newly adopted abode. Celebrated worldwide for its natural beauty and picturesque landscapes, the Amalfi is one of the most popular holiday destinations for those seeking love and romance. Her sensitive delivery of these songs on the album brings on those much-coveted feelings, the original compositions imbued with a little bossa nova, swing, and classic jazz. Marina del Cantone, La Luna Sul Mare, and title song Un’estate Italiana evoke images of olive trees, lemon groves, tiny vintage Fiat 500s, and craggy cliffs, with pastel houses covered in bougainvillea which seemingly tumble down to the bright blue sea with a moon shimmering on the water. Singing in both Italian and English, Kiely ably delivers her romantic vocals with aplomb, accompanied by a more than competent band of musicians, including James Mackey on saxophone, Andrew Scott on piano and arrangements, and Arthur Washington on guitar. Do yourself a favour, flip open a bottle of limoncello on your terrace and reminisce about summers abroad.