Album Review: Joe Ely, Love in the Midst of Mayhem (Rack ‘Em Records)

With Love in the Midst of Mayhem, the original Flatlander, Joe Ely trawls through his personal trove of unreleased songs stretching back to the 70’s to deliver a sombre but ultimately uplifting set of songs for the troubled America.

Holed up in Texas with the coronavirus pandammit, and the economic and social stasis locking up the land, a comforting mood serves all well.

Soon All Your Sorrows Will Be Gone kicks off the album with a quiet picked acoustic guitar and some beautiful Tex-Mex accordion from Joel Guzman. He plays in similar fashion throughout the rest of the material.

The earth came from chaos, lightning hail and rain. Heart and soul, your sorrows be gone. The pain of living, a song of spiritual redemption.

Electric guitar buzz starts Garden of Manhattan but immediately the spare acoustic guitar takes over. This recalls Wim Wender’s movie Wings of Desire, angels weaving in and out of a troubled and grimy city.

Halo of light/ Chariot of fire/ Just like it says in the bible.

A Man and His Dog is another movie. Homeless man and his dog. Harassed by police as a looter. Notices all the broken people on the streets with their signs while others walk by only talking into their phones.

Joe is in great voice throughout the course of the album.

Your Eyes is a spare piano song, and he sounds like a young Willie Nelson.

Then the dynamic shifts a little over the second half of the album.

Cry is Roy Orbison territory. The vocals start nice and quiet and builds to dramatic tension on the bridge. A rocking electric guitar solo gives the song power.

Don’t Worry About It is more expansive and the music stretches out over the vastness of the plains of Texas. Starts out Buddy Holly and then the acoustic guitar soars across the land.

Texas roots, Buddy and Roy.

Glare of Glory is Rock theatre. Prominent drums, a carnival keyboard, electric guitar riffs with shifts in dynamics and an anguished vocal. Been listening to The Door’s Soft Parade.

It may sound melancholy at first but these are strong songs and the message is hopeful. Makes me wonder if there is more great material still to come out of storage.

Rev Orange Peel