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Ash Koley Shows Eclectic Promise on The White EP
by Nadya Vlassoff
 With
the new three track Ash Koley EP, The White, out
on Nettwerk as of November 10, what is most intriguing
if not beguiling about the up and coming Koley
is her natural vocal talent. The velvet voice
of Ash Foley has the perfect rhythm to fit the
mainstream, commercialized pop market, but instead
Koley and producer Phil Deschambault choose to
streamline her vocal arrangement on her White
EP and cast aside the technological studio enhancements
that stereotype many budding artists. As fans
will hear on The White, that all-important decision
is a refreshing change in a genre escalating with
recyclable material.
The White EP is only the first of four projected Ash Koley EPs slated for release, with The Blue EP, The Red EP and The Black EP to follow The White in the next few months.
The first track, "Mary the Inventor", is an uplifting Fleetwood Mac inspired track with an acoustic spine similar to George Michael’s "Faith". Although The White EP shows several diverse sides of Ash Koley, "Mary" reveals two sides of Koley in one song since Ash also provides her own backing vocals coming out of the Fleetwood esque chorus. It’s a tiny detail that packs a powerful punch. If ever there was a song that should be on your summer soundtrack, "Mary the Inventor" is tailor made for a Sunday afternoon unwind on the open highway with the top down. If Fleetwood Mac and ABBA met Fiest then "Mary the Inventor" would be their love child.
The second White EP track, "Go" is a fun, radio friendly track ripe with shades of The B-52s minus the overpowering vocals of a singer like Fred Schneider. At the same time, it also recalls the simplicity of earlier upbeat R.E.M. songs like "Shiny Happy People". You could call it a musically fat free lyrical relative. "Go" fires on the energy of a B-52s song like "Love Shack" only softer and less flamboyant. While "Love Shack" was a "little old place", "Go" is about fun in the sun, clouds and catching rays until you need help.
 The
real gem on The White EP is the third and final
track, "Trampoline". The first few keys are
reminiscent of Mariah Carey’s cover of the Jackson
5’s "Without You" before it quickly becomes
Ash Koley’s own elegant and contemporary ballad
with layers rooted in the style of Sarah McLachlan.
An homage to the last vestiges of everyone’s
inner child via a metaphor of the Ringling Brothers
Traveling Circus, "Trampoline" personifies the
beauty of childhood curiosity and innocence
where even the smallest of events feel like
profound life-changing incidents to a youngster.
Although the three tracks of The White EP show the range and potential of Ash Koley in the direction of neuvo-wave pop, Koley borrows heavily from her influences to create her own unique sound filled with sincerity and intellect without taking things too seriously. The White EP punctuates how simplicity can be a powerful force in both the mind and heart. With three more colorful Eps to come down the Nettwerk pike, the tracks on The White EP make you long for a full-length album, which will be coming in 2010. Still, expect to hear the name Ash Koley more often since Koley has only begun to bring her brand of eclectic music to the masses.
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