Beginning with dark, sultry piano tinkering, a man’s
mysterious voice rings out: “Music is emotion made manifest, words bring
meaning to music, music brings wings to words, together they are song, I am the
singer, you are the singer.”. And such is the opening of Paris Wells’ second
album, Various Small Fires.

This record is everything I hoped from this Melbourne
songstress. There is a slightly different sound from her 2008 album, Keep It,
yet it still, thankfully, retains her signature soulful vocals, lyrical tunes
and versatility. I saw her a few months ago at the Illusive Sound Check party,
and I’m pretty sure I wrote about the big girl-crush I had on her.

Well, this album has amplified that considerably. There are
twelve tracks, all of which flow together with few flaws, if any! Yet, this is
not a one-dimensional album, in fact it changes pace many times.

It is a piano-dominated album, and many of the tracks make
me think of a make-believe burlesque carnival, in which several characters are
experiencing an abundance of thrilling, confusing, sad, and happy days in their
adventures, love affairs and playtimes… Though that is probably unintentional,
and I have allowed my imagination to get the better of me, I do believe to
produce music that prompts such vivid pictures is a success.

Wells’ voice is just beautiful, for lack of more appropriate
adjectives.

I can’t distinguish a stand-out track, as every single one
has rightly earned its place on the album. But, to segregate a few of the
fantastic ones from the rest of the merely ‘great’ ones, I will say the
eponymous track, ‘Mess Mr’, ‘Goldie’, ‘No Hard Feelings’ and ‘Let’s Go Home’
are highest on my playcount. ‘Most of the songs are appropriate for a good
boogie, although the first track (Various Small Fires) and the last (Let’s Go
Home) are quite melancholy and touching.

The whole album, really, makes me feel quite fuzzy inside. 

It is out on the 15
th
 of October, and I recommend you get it.

Review Score: 9.5/10