The day I found good Scottish indie music in a Japanese anime series was the day I fell in love with Ally Kerr. Clearly an underdog in the UK indie music scene, this Glasgow-based singer-songwriter first achieved success with his first self-produced debut. Calling Out to You was picked up by the Japanese outfit Quince Records in 2005. The album was listed in a Japanese magazine as one of the best albums that came out of Scotland, not too far away from works by Belle & Sebastian and Teenage Fanclub.

Not too long after that, one of the tracks from Calling Out, ‘The Sore Feet Song,’ was used as the theme in a popular Japanese animated series, Mushi-shi. The cartoons then aired in several countries and was released in DVD in both the UK and the US. This much-needed exposure certainly served to get the word out and increase his fanbase.

Now one of the fastest-rising artists to come from Scotland, he’s pretty much getting some much-deserved recognition. So much so, that he even (nearly) anonymously did a series of live shows in Asia this year.

Indie geeks should find an affinity with his music. It’s unassuming but catchy, and jangly without being overzealous. In fact, Ally Kerr’s music is quite effectual, and the beauty of his little pop gems lies in his brand of laidback pop.

Calling Out to You is a heartfelt debut that demonstrates the artist’s beguiling sense of songwriting. The album offers a handful of melodious tracks that keeps winning you over, like the nostalgic and sweet ‘Midst of a Storm,’ and the cheerily naïve ‘Someone’s Got a Crush on Me.’ The latter is about a clueless boy who belatedly realizes that a girl had been sending him signals the whole time - he was just too clueless to notice until she moved on with her life. Other songs like the title track, as well as ‘Another Winter’s Day,’ could be easy favorites.

The second equally charming follow-up, Off the Radar (Much Obliged Records), was released in 2008. Despite the album title, Scotland’s best-kept secret was brought back into the spotlight following glowing reviews from the first single, ‘Could Have Been a Contender.’ Although the 12-track album doesn’t stray too far from what was offered on the first, this does not mean Kerr fell back onto what’s comfortable. In fact, the lyrics are far quirkier and cleverer than they actually sound. Songs may drip with syrup in some places but work to endear and connect with the listener’s own lives and loves.

‘The Toothbrush Song’ is a personal favorite that sings about missing someone after they’ve gone, with only a disused toothbrush sitting in a jar serving to remind you that you’re alone again. And then, there’s ‘Is It Too Late to Work for NASA,’ a geeky intimate song where he yearns for a job in outer space. The album’s glowing track could very well be ‘There’s a World,’ because it has all the elements that could decidedly be Ally Kerr’s musical signature – resplendent simplicity.

Both albums are perfectly crafted and drizzled with folk sugar to make them more appetizing. Hummable songs and a luminous presence make the UK indie artist one that should be on any self-respecting indie lover’s radar. Unlike other artists or bands from the UK indie music scene, this rising mystery star shines, with each affable pop song that offers more substance than fluff. It would be great if his next album would have something quite new and hopefully something less predictable.

Similar Artists: Belle & Sebastian, Neil Finn, Simon & Garfunkel, The Housemartins, Kings Of Convenience, Ben Kweller

Rating: 4/5

- Meg Cabanes

Links:
http://www.allykerr.com
http://www.myspace.com/allykerr