Far From Saints

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His full length debut on Daptone Records is equal parts raw feeling and elegance and exudes confidence and charm. Far From Saints sees Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics team up with Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker of The Wind and The Wave to present an album that successfully freewheels through genres from country to folk with an additional touch of Americana. Clearly, at ease with each other, it remains to be seen where the three artists go next, but their first offering certainly feels like it could be a springboard to bigger things. Inspirational lyrics are a theme throughout the album, with Lynn defiantly encouraging, “Don’t give up without a fight”, on the song, which seems destined to be a favourite for live performances. Far From Saints is a thrilling partnership with The Wind and the Wave's Patty Lynn (vocals) and Dwight Baker (guitar), the culmination of a friendship that began when they supported Stereophonics on their 2013 tour.

Far From Saints - Far From Saints [CD] - Horizons Music Far From Saints - Far From Saints [CD] - Horizons Music

After The Wind and The Wave had toured with Stereophonics in 2013, Jones reconnected with the duo in 2019, asking them to open for his solo tour. I don't think we even knew what we were writing for, other than just to be creative and because we loved the way that their voices sounded together" adds Dwight Baker. While it was created remarkably quickly, it also took years to be unveiled after the pandemic left them an ocean apart.

Far From Saints is a project born from a shared, unadulterated love of music and collaboration, rich with emotions, creative integrity and defined by the unique sound of Kelly and Patty’s vocal harmonies.

Far From Saints - Far From Saints | XS Noize ALBUM REVIEW: Far From Saints - Far From Saints | XS Noize

While it was created remarkably quickly, it also took years to be unveiled after the pandemic left them an ocean apart. In 2022, following an eight-year live hiatus, Hard-Fi advised that they would play a handful of dates, including a gig at the Kentish Town Forum in London.In a country tinged song which ruminates on loved ones left behind, Patty and Kelly trade verses from opposing perspectives. But as the song is elevated from sparse Americana into a richer, string-laden crescendo, both their lyrics and their harmonies show the strength that comes with a partnership that surpasses that of the individual. Far From Saints’ new single ‘Let The Light Shine Over You’ is already established as a staple of their live shows and was heralded by The Upcoming “as one of the most stunning tracks on the record, with some gorgeous strings accompanying Jones and Lynn and adding another element to an already vast soundscape. Enjoying an eclectic taste in genres has been found to relieve the stresses of following Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC! As much as I've try to do as many different things over the course of 12 albums, it's still kind of branded as Stereophonics.

Far From Saints and teases Kelly Jones discusses new band Far From Saints and teases

At the end of each leg of the tour, they booked recording sessions and completed the album in just nine days; however, due to the pandemic, it has taken four years to release. Recording what became Far From Saints' self-titled debut - which is released on Friday - only took nine days. The reflective “Gonna Find What’s Killing Me” proves uplifting, with Jones and Lynn again declaring, “I’m still alive”. As with the rest of Far From Saints’ upcoming debut album, ‘Let’s Turn This Back Around’ was written and produced by the band, with mixing from the Grammy-nominated Al Clay (Blur, Pixies).

Kelly, Patty and Dwight first experimented playing together when performing a cover version of Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty’s ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ on Kelly Jones’ solo UK tour in 2019 (Dwight and Patty were openers for Kelly each night). Now with a massively successful US tour opening for sweet soul darlings Thee Sacred Souls behind him, 2023 is sure to be a propitious year for Daptone's newest signee. One of the more up-tempo rock numbers on the album is “The Ride”, which again seeks to uplift, with lines such as, “You’ve got another thing coming if you think you’re running out of time. Welcome to the October 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube.