Elles Bailey 'Beneath the Neon Glow Revisited' album review: Award-winning album gets a glorious piano makeover

Elles Bailey's most recent album 'Beneath the Neon Glow' is a bona fide modern classic. Not only is it an award-winning album, but it also reached #12 in the Official Album charts. For Elles, as a proudly independent artist in a world of big labels, that is an amazing feat! It's also one of the best albums of the last decade, never mind the last year - did we mention that?

'Reimagined' isn't simply 'Elles' Version', or a marketing gimmick to push album sales, the stripped-back, interpretation stands proudly alongside its successful parent. It captures the creative journey and digs deeper into the heart of the songs without the distraction of arrangements or attempting to be a facsimile of the original.

Armed with only her distinctive voice and Johnny Henderson's flourishing piano work, (with the exception of a few hand claps and egg shakers ), 'Reimagined' is raw and has that very live feel, but pushes further. Those who have seen Elles on tour will be familiar with the pairing back of an odd song here and there, but this almost feels like a demo or her lockdown sessions in places. The most striking thing is the power and emotion of Elles’ smokey vocal, with cracks and rasps laid bare. In a world where perfection is touted as the absolute norm, the beautiful imperfections on the record are a reminder of something deeper behind the filters and technical wizardry that we've all come to depend on.

The songs themselves are given slight makeovers with a change of phrasing and tempo.

'1972' has a honkey tonk feel with Johnny’s striding keys. Much of the album also uses a slightly out-of-tune piano, adding to the feel of a blues club - which is where Elles cut her teeth. It's used to great effect on tracks like the nostalgic /Silhouette in a Sunset' and the funked up 'Love yourself'.

'Let it Burn/, with Elles on piano has become a staple at live shows and it's recreated here with just as much passion. Originally, the vocals and arrangement worked together to produce one of the best tracks on the record. Here, with just Elles on piano, it demands your attention.

'Enjoy the Ride' the dynamic album opener from the original cut, finds itself shuffled to the middle of the deck. It's a really energetic acoustic version that has an almost open mic feel, and is just as enjoyable. 'Truth Ain't Gonna Save Us' also benefits from the piano version and Elle's vocal surpasses the original in terms of emotion.

There's two tracks from the Deluxe version of the album: 'Hate That I Love You' and 'Who Needs the Weather' that are also included. The orginal record worked fine without the additon those tracks, but artistically they were a welcome inclusion to this version.

Elles Bailey could have released a 'Reimagined' album that was stripped back, unplugged, a capella or with a bluegrass band and it would have proved once again that a great song is a great song. 'Beneath the Neon Glow' overflows with them, and 'Reimagined' just allows the fiercly strong songwriting to bask in the spotlight.