There's not a lot #TEAMw21 can tell you about The Indigo Roots Band, they are siblings Victoria. Bethany and Daniel Kelley and prior to this latest release they have at least 3 other highly impressive singles currently available. This latest one "Gypsy Summertime" welcomes you in with a delightful acoustic sound, think fiddle, bass and guitar and then sprinkle some sublime vocals from Victoria and you begin to get a glimpse of quite how good they are.
The opening very much sets the scene, the guitar takes the opening few notes, before the bass gives an overall warmth to the sound, while the fiddle gives it an additional touch of class. The lyrics very much divide the song into two distinct parts, the opening section very much dealing with the male protagonist in the song.
They describe a free spirit - which Victoria paints perfectly in her breathy delivery, that capture the sense of admiration for this force of nature
"He grew up South of Dixie
Heart of a hippie
Soul of a gypsy
Jealous of the wind
Burning with flames of passion inside
Soaring like an eagle, born to fly
Unstoppable"
The sense of wanderlust filters through into the next verse, as does that sense of the effect that he seems to have on all those he comes into contact with.
"That’s the only life he knows
His home is just the open road
He’s jealous of the wind
They say he could go real far
With a song in his heart and that old guitar, chasing a dream."
The chorus once again plays just how much he can capture a heart, the vocals almost struggle to contain the passion that he stirs.
"He’s the first ray of sun at dawn
Pushin thru the night til the dark is gone
He’s got a fire that burns inside
Wild as a honeysuckle on the vine
He’s my Gypsy Summertime"
The second half of the song deals with the female half of the equation, at first seemingly an opposite coming from an urban background. but blessed with many of the same qualities. For this section Victoria's vocals become ever more expressive and the chorus sees her brother nicely echoing the lyrics in the background.
"She grew up in the middle of the city
Stole the heart and soul of that gypsy
Jealous of the wind
Burning with flames of passion inside
Filled with fire of a different kind
Unstoppable
She’s the first ray of sun at dawn
Pushin thru the night til he makes it home
She’s got a fire that burns inside
Wild as a honeysuckle on the vine"
The quality of Jim VanCleve's production shines through, there's a sparkling clarity and the build up of intensity in both instruments and vocals is beautifully handled. The bridge and final repeated chorus is a final chance to show of some vocal agility which is delightfully delivered.
"But when I see the first ray of dawn
Take my hand, baby come along
You’re my fire that burns inside
Gonna be together til the end of time"
The final musical coda is as beautiful a way to start 2024 as you could ever hope for.
This is certainly a group we'll be following as the year unfolds.