Alien Envoy Loads

With one foot in the music world and the other in film, there is always a danger that Nick Kelly will spread himself too thinly. Actually, much of the second album by Alien Envoy, the former Fat Lady Sings frontman's solo vehicle, seems tailored for soundtracks – be it the Randy Newman-esque piano ballad Small Loads or the softly plucked Sam and Andre, a song that recounts the unusual friendship between Samuel Beckett and Andre the Giant. Amidst the ruminative balladry, Kelly is proficient in histrionics, but opener Resolution's humorous blast of punky rock is a standout. Kelly's insistence on adapting an American singing accent is puzzling though forgivable, but it makes for a consistent album, rather than a particularly thrilling one. nickkelly.ie