Kelly Lee Owens
Brighton Chalk

WELSH electronic artist Kelly Lee Owens used to be a nurse before pursuing music — a decision encouraged by her own patients, who recognised her talent. They were not wrong.

Since her 2017 eponymous debut album, she has become one of the most regarded and versatile female producers, collaborating with the likes of techno favourites Daniel Avery and Jon Hopkins, Velvet Underground founding member (and fellow Welsh native) John Cale, and Norwegian avant-garde artist Jenny Hval. 

Her own foray into experimentation appeared to reach its apex on last album LP.8 — a record inspired by, of all things, the noise-industrial pioneers Throbbing Gristle. 

Now, in an unexpected curveball, her latest record Dreamstate is all clubby trance-pop with emotive vocals. Yet, whatever your opinion on that, as a concept evoking the heady euphoria of Britain’s club scene, it works marvellously. 

Standing betwixt two synths, KLO uses a hand to play each one while dancing to the beats of Higher, Dreamstate, Love You Got and Sunshine from said album. In these moments, we’re transformed from this sensible mid-evening set to a dance rave at 3am, with everyone going wild under flashing strobe lights.

Slower numbers like Trust And Desire and Ballad (In The End) give some much needed breathing space and show off KLO’s emotive vocal talents. There’s room enough too for some faves off previous albums. Arpeggi, On, Night and Melt! off her critically acclaimed Inner Song all feature. The latter’s belting techno is very on-brand tonight. The Throbbing Gristle stuff stays out of it though. Shame.

She finishes with a rallying cry in support of small venues, the importance of fighting against their closure, and defending arts and culture outside of the big cities — a fight that we’re proud to take on in the pages of the Morning Star.

On tour until August 17. For more information see: kellyleeowens.com