Rory Ellis Twisted Willow (Independent) Each release from this trusty troubadour cements my esteem for his understated talent. I’ve been progressively impressed by his voice (big, rich and welcoming as a hearty beef stew), his songwriting (catchy rolling rhythms and soulful tunes) and the no-bullshit personality delivered in his lyrics. With his sixth album, I’m overwhelmingly struck by his poetry - Twisted Willow is thick with killer turns of phrase. As always, the stories describe Ellis’ latest activities and observations. The road warrior, wearing his heart on rolled up sleeves, is never corny maudlin or clichéd. He describes his ‘Right Hand Woman’ on the opening track: ‘She’s tough / she’s enough’; no back-handed compliment but meant in the noblest possible way. The title track intrigues: ‘A razor blade to slice the buds, should fruit appear to bear / and when I find that perfect Sunday, I will not be there’. ‘floordrobe’s piling up again…’ he sings in celebration of his beloved but limited finery on ‘Dirty Clothes’ (‘they come when I whistle and they jump right on my back’.) Ellis annually plies his trade across the globe yet maintains a realistic outlook on the biz. ‘The Road Is Not My Friend’ dispenses with any romanticised view of clocking up miles and sleeping rough. He faces up to the regrets of being a dad at a distance, falling foul of small-time crims and other realities of touring life. Elsewhere, his distinctly Australian droll and dry sense of humour punctuates the pensive notes. ‘Too Fat To Do That’ is a toe-tapping confessional from a man who enjoys his tucker. Threatening to ‘lose it’ when thrust into territory wars with a van vendor, he warns ‘Gonna wrap those metal signs of yours around your skinny neck.’ Playing various strings, Ellis recorded and produced the lot with minor assistance from Dave Steel (mandolin, Dobro), daughter Carly (piano) and Paul Robert Burton (mix and master). Folk, blues and country shades combine to form another captivating chapter in the Rory Ellis almanac. I’m yet to decode all the lyrics within; the true poet providing us a challenge to relish beyond first listen. Review By Chris Lambie, Forte Magazine, March 2013.

Rory Ellis Twisted Willow (Independent) Something I’m always keen on, another record from Victorian troubadour Rory Ellis. Ellis himself is larger than life, and this personality of his comes through in his records, in the stories he spins, in the way he crafts his albums; Twisted Willow, his sixth offering since 2001, being no exception. Getting a bit more adventurous, Ellis recorded and played every track on this one, with the exception of some fine piano from his daughter, Carly, on ‘The Road Is Not My Friend’, and some sweet mandolin and dobro from the ubiquitous Dave Steel on ‘The Woodstore’ and ‘Bullets To Bite’ respectively. It’s mainly the man himself though, and you can tell he’s more than comfortable now; this is what he does, and he does it well. Twisted Willow gets pretty down and dark, sonically. It’s very much a country record, road-worn and weary, Ellis’ vast touring experience woven into every word and turn of phrase, the bass deep and thumping, guitars riding bare-back over the top. Where the record really shines though, and I’ve mentioned this before, is in Ellis’ voice – so big and rich is it, that you can’t help but be drawn in to whatever it is he’s singing about, feeling what he’s feeling. It’s a voice made to sing country music, which is why his music, and this album, are so simple, yet so effective. Review By Samuel J. Fell Rhythms Magazine, February 2013.

Rory Ellis Twisted Willow (Independent) The road is a crucible for working musicians who seek to live on the strength of their guitar strings and stories. They can break on the wheel or learn who they truly are in the nightly swirl of other people's lives. Rory Ellis has been clocking up the kilometres for more than a decade, a respected figure here and abroad, and has been burnished and made strong by the life he's chosen. Playing pubs and halls the world over, looking out at a different audience every night, the travelling man must be able to sling out a country tinged song like If the Drugs Don't Do It, easily shifting to the rocking Doggin', and the folk blues of The Woodstore. Ellis' songs are full of keen impressions and feelings, sung in a voice that is always true and expressive. The Road Is Not My Friend is a bittersweet ballad, nicely balanced by Right Hand Woman, about gaining strength from a loving partner. Apart from a little help from Dave Steel on dobro and mandolin, Ellis plays all the guitars, banjo, percussion and various other instruments on the album Review By Jeff Glorfeld, The Age EG, March 1st 2013. ★★★★