Leanne Kelly is a gifted singer-songwriter and keyboardist based in San Francisco. Three years ago, Kelly and Jacob Frautschi, as the duo New Spell, released Of Time, Part I. Little did they know how timely what has turned out to be a three-part EP series would be.
On the compilations, Kelly sings about time in all of its permutations — how we experience it, adapt to it and ultimately embrace its passage and the influence time has on our lives. Could this be any more topical?
So, here we are in COVID-19 time, and New Spell is wrapping up the series with the release of Of Time, Part III.
As always, New Spell’s music consists of dark, yet highly accessible, synth-pop. The EPs are cerebral, sensual and sumptuous — with catchy melodies and waves of music that wash over you. The lyrics make you think about time in new ways — and with where we are today, this might be the perfect time to do that.
Kelly plays the piano, synths, other keyboards, some percussion, and handles the vocals. Frautschi plays the drums and assists with some synths. And Max Savage provided additional synths, piano and drums on Of Time, Part III.
Track highlights: The EP opens with “Easier,” contemplative techno-pop with playful keyboard runs layered in. There’s a buzzy lead break — and a joyful breakbeat-driven ending. Kelly’s lyrics pose a question we’re all thinking about right now, “What will change and what will remain.”
“Future’s Wild” features driving “indie-disco” with a club beat. It’s more industrial sounding in some ways, but also features sparkling synth arpeggios layered in.
Track 3, “Home,” is a beautiful synth-pop ballad with soaring vocals and synth strings. Machine-like keys swirl. The lyrics speak to “finding creativity and meaning in love despite living in a time that often feels hopeless.”
Finally worth noting is “Where You Are,” a single that New Spell released last year while the finishing touches were being put onto this EP. It’s dreamy, dancey and infectious — set to almost an Afrobeat. Uplifting lyrics are about acceptance — wherever you are.
Of Time, Part III closes with a fifth song, “Forgotten,” that starts as a piano ballad, but builds to a fuzzed-out, distorted climax.
As you can tell, this is more than just some spacey EDM. It’s beautiful, mesmerizing and often dynamic electro-pop with melodies that make it really worth your…time. Check out the entire Of Time series of EPs from New Spell on their Bandcamp page.
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