Irish singer-songwriter Keeley released her second full-length album, Beautiful Mysterious, an evocative, deeply personal project that solidifies her unique place in the music world. Known for crafting her entire body of work around the tragic story of Inga Maria Hauser, a German teenager who was murdered in Northern Ireland in 1988, Keeley continues to blend hauntingly poetic lyrics with the lush, atmospheric sounds of shoegaze, post-punk, and dream-pop. Following the success of her debut Floating Above Everything Else, Keeley’s sophomore album has been described as her most accomplished work yet, receiving glowing attention from Irish media like Tom Dunne on Newstalk, RTE, and 8Radio, while garnering increasing support from UK outlets like BBC Radio 6 Music.
Keeley Moss, the creative force behind the project, is not your typical artist. While many musicians explore love, personal struggles, and the minutiae of everyday life in their songwriting, Keeley’s work takes an unorthodox approach, focusing entirely on a single subject: the life and death of Inga Maria Hauser. The story of Hauser’s abduction and unsolved murder has consumed Keeley for nearly a decade, providing a wellspring of inspiration for her music. Far from being morbid, her work breathes life into Hauser’s memory, encapsulating the joy, hope, and vitality of the young woman whose life was cut tragically short.
Keeley explains, “I’ve often been asked why I choose to write about only one subject, and one that might seem macabre to the uninitiated. But to me, Inga’s story is full of hope, vitality, beauty, mystery, and poignancy. I felt a burning compulsion to make it my mission in life to memorialize her short life in any way I could. It’s an endless source of inspiration to me.”
Beautiful Mysterious is a concept album divided into two thematic halves: The Beauty and The Mystery. These dual aspects of the album reflect the dichotomy in Inga’s story—the beauty of her life, full of promise and dreams, and the mystery of her untimely death, which remains unsolved to this day. Keeley uses this structure to explore Inga’s journey with poignancy and emotional depth, making the album a “sonic novel,” as she describes it, that unfolds over 11 tracks.
The first part, The Beauty, opens with “A Doorway to Another World,” a song that sets the tone with ethereal melodies and Keeley’s signature dreamlike vocals. It captures the sense of adventure and wonder that defined Inga’s European travels before her tragic end. This is followed by tracks like “Trans-Europe 18” and “Inga Maria’s Dream,” which weave narratives of youth, freedom, and the innocence of exploration. Each song in this section is a window into the promise of Inga’s life, painted through the lens of Keeley’s emotional connection to the story.
In the second half, The Mystery, Keeley delves into darker, more melancholic territory. Songs like “Galloway Princess” and “Forever Froze” reflect the tragic and unresolved aspects of Inga’s story. Keeley’s atmospheric soundscapes take on a sharper, more jagged edge here, mirroring the pain and frustration of an unsolved crime. The title track, “You Were The Beauty,” closes the album on a poignant note, with Keeley’s vocals floating over layers of reverb-drenched guitar, offering a bittersweet tribute to Inga’s enduring legacy.
Keeley’s collaboration with Dublin-based producer Alan Maguire has brought new dimensions to her sound. The album’s production is both expansive and intimate, with shimmering guitars, lush synths, and ambient textures creating a rich, immersive listening experience. Drawing from decades of musical influences, Beautiful Mysterious is a fusion of shoegaze, post-punk, and dream-pop, with moments of psychedelia and post-rock that reflect Keeley’s eclectic musical tastes.
Miki Berenyi, of Lush and Piroshka, perfectly captured the essence of Keeley’s sound: “For all the shoegaze parallels and dark lyrical associations, I get ’70s summertime vibes full of irrepressible hope and an energetic pursuit of dreams.” This duality of darkness and hope is central to the album’s success, with Keeley balancing the weight of the subject matter with moments of brightness and transcendence.
Since the release of her debut album, Keeley has garnered a loyal fanbase, both for her music and her passion for justice in the Inga Maria Hauser case. Her live performances, now supported by bassist Lukey Foxtrot and drummer Andrew Paresi (formerly of Morrissey’s band), have taken on an almost mythic quality. Keeley’s shows are a sonic journey, often described as both hypnotic and cathartic, and she has shared the stage with Britpop icons like Echobelly and supported bands such as Terrorvision on tour.
Looking beyond the music, Keeley’s commitment to Inga’s story has also caught the attention of filmmakers. A documentary about Keeley’s involvement in the Hauser case and her life in music is currently in development, produced by the team behind the acclaimed From Scotland With Love. The film promises to delve deeper into Keeley’s unique artistic mission, examining themes of violence against women and the failure of justice through a feminist lens.
With Beautiful Mysterious, Keeley has delivered a hauntingly beautiful album that not only cements her place as one of the most promising new artists from Ireland but also underscores her unique approach to storytelling through music. By focusing on the life of Inga Maria Hauser, Keeley has found a way to blend true crime with poetic lyricism, creating a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
As Keeley continues to evolve as an artist, her unwavering dedication to her muse—Inga Maria Hauser—ensures that her music will remain as unique as it is powerful. In an era where many musicians follow trends, Keeley’s commitment to her singular mission makes her stand out, offering listeners a glimpse into a world where tragedy and beauty are forever intertwined.
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