Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Keith Sadler is the kind of singer/songwriter who, if you catch him play in a coffee house or bar somewhere you'd find yourself scribbling his name down on a menu or serviette so that later you could go and search the 'net to see whether he's ever recorded anything. The Stowmarket songsmith cut this one last year and a heartwarming delight it is. Avoiding the singer/songwriter tendency towards maudlin miserablism or obscure metaphor, the five songs on 'Allow Joy' are decidedly uplifting. Even a story song about a dead loved one as on "In East Anglian Fields" Keith reminds us that her heart is finally home while the opener tells us to "Take it easy on yourself/Allow yourself joy, joy, joy" without a hint of corny jollity. Equally engaging is the ukulele-driven "The Best Day" which even features a little bit of whistling without forcing me to reach for the skip button (no mean feat considering this reviewer's intolerance of whistling). Strong melodies, lyrics which skillfully deliver their points and a beautifully deft production by Chris Lockington all combine to make this EP one you'll play often.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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