THE VERDICT- IN THIS WORLD

Posted bythestevebellprojectsPosted inCollaboration, composer, Composing music, David Foster, Earth Wind and Fire, jazz music, Music, new artist, Pop music, r&b, Recording music, Song writingTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Albert Ionstack’s review of our 2026 release ‘In this World’

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thestevebellprojects/in-this-world?ref=release

The album In This World by The Steve Bell Projects (released in April 2026) is a meticulously crafted love letter to the sophisticated 1970s and 1980s adult contemporary, soul-pop, and smooth jazz eras. Led by Melbourne pianist and songwriter Steve Bell, the record acts as a collaborative showcase. It pairs Bell’s lush piano chords and groove-forward arrangements with an international cast of standout vocalists.

Tracklist & Vocal Collaborations

The 10-track record spans 37 minutes, utilizing different singers to give each song a unique flavor while keeping a cohesive retro aesthetic.

  • “Back to California” (feat. Tiara Abigail) — A breezy, driving track that acts as a perfect gateway to the album’s sunny, nostalgic tone.
  • “Running Away” (feat. Fallon Williams) — Leans into a heavier R&B groove with powerful, expressive vocal work.
  • “Walking by Your Side (26 mix)” (feat. Jennifer Davids) — A polished, updated mix of a track featuring one of Bell’s earliest post-hiatus collaborators.
  • “Continental Girl” & “Stand and Deliver” (feat. Luke O’Connor) — These tracks bring a smooth, charismatic male vocal dynamic to the project.
  • “We Won’t Forget You Andy” (feat. Fallon Williams) — A deeply emotional, reflective piece driven by rich instrumentation.
  • “Thumbelina” (feat. Jayaa) — A lighter, playful pop-soul moment on the record.
  • “New Love” (feat. Kris Nandharaj) — An upbeat track with sharp syncopation and a tight rhythm section.
  • “It’s a Dream (26 Mix)” (feat. Jennifer Davids & Emma Williams) — A lush, harmony-heavy ballad featuring stellar vocal layering.
  • “In This World” (feat. Tiara Abigail) — The title track and a perfect summary of the album’s warm, David Foster-esque arrangement style.

Musical Strengths

  • Rich, Sophisticated Chord Structures: Steve Bell’s background shines through his complex jazz-pop piano compositions. The chord progressions are deliberately unpredictable but instantly satisfying, mirroring the golden era of yacht rock and studio-pop aristocracy.
  • Exceptional Curation of Talent: Instead of singing himself, Bell acts as a Quincy Jones-style producer/arranger. He tailors each track to the specific strengths of his guests, whether it’s the soaring soul of Tiara Abigail or the rhythmic delivery of Fallon Williams.
  • Flawless Production Value: The album sounds pristine. The rhythm section is locked-in and unhurried, allowing space for horn sections, shimmering synth layers, and crisp backing vocals to bloom without crowding the mix.

Featuring

  • Tiara
  • Fallon Williams
  • Jayaa
  • Luke O’Connor
  • Jennifer Davids
  • Kris Nandharaj

Musicians

Darryn Farrugia – Drums
Carlo Barbaro – Sax
Craig Newman – Bass
John McAll – Piano and keyboards
Trevor Carter – Guitars and programming
Kris Nandharaj – Guitars
Stephen Bell – Synths and keyboards
Jordan Murray – Trombone & horn arrangements
Ed Farlie – Trumpet
Mat Creedon – Guitars
Background Vocals – Nikki Nicholls

Production

Executive Producer – Stephen Bell
Co-Executive Producer – Paul Higgins
Producer, Engineer and Mixing – Trevor Carter
Preproduction – Mat Creedon, John Israel, Trevor Carter, Stephen Bell
Arrangements – Stephen Bell, Trevor Carter, John McAll

All songs composed by Stephen Bell with exception of ‘New Love’ written by Stephen Bell, John McAll and Kris Nandharaj for Bell Songs 2026.

The Verdict

In This World is a triumphant self-discovery album for Steve Bell, who returned to music during the COVID-19 lockdowns after a 20-year hiatus running a consulting firm. It avoids the traps of cheap modern synth-wave nostalgia. Instead, it relies on genuine, organic instrumentation and complex musicianship. For fans of Steely Dan, Earth, Wind & Fire, David Foster, or modern smooth jazz, this album is an absolute must-listen

Below, Bell and producer Trev Carter

Published by thestevebellprojects

Listen to the music of The Steve Bell Projects on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music via this link: https://linktr.ee/thestevebellprojects ‘My thrill is to take relatively unknown, very unique and talented singers and compose and arrange retro songs that they record.’ Born in Melbourne, Australia, Steve Bell was brought up on seventies and eighties pop, soul and funk. He was obsessed with Earth Wind and Fire, Bee Gees, Al Jarreau, Gino Vannelli, TOTO, George Benson and, the great, David Foster. He liked class music with rich melodies - a big feature of his own writing today. While at college he played drums in numerous bands, but in his own words ‘wasn’t much chop at that’. But he did have a knack for playing piano by ear and writing ‘kind of cool’ ballads and soul songs. In his twenties he had a part-time role (on top of his day job) as a pop music critic for a local arts magazine, where he interviewed acclaimed artists from across the world. His interviews were always deep and focused on learning more and more about great songwriting and performing. Then he took a break - for over 25 years, running his company and being a family ‘guy’. However, he yearned for creative endeavours and once locked down during the COVID crisis, he started writing songs again. His first song ‘Lonely View’ was written looking out across the local bay from his composing studio and recorded using the amazing vocals of Jennifer Davids. Thus he started the journey of identifying a talented singer every few months and penning them a song with rich 70s and 80s melodies and jazz pop inspired chord structures.

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