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MATT WALKER & ASHLEY DAVIES REVIEWS |
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reviews
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Reviews for I Listen To The Night
Ahh-- the perfect antidote for over produced, sanitized radio fare: a guitar and drum duo that tracks live in the studio. Walker knows how to churn a simple groove into a huge wall of sound. The approach is reckless, immediate, and starkly beautiful.
- Andy Ellis, Guitar Player Magazine US Although Walker's chief musical territory is the blues, because of his proficiency as a slide guitarist and his choice of material, his work has a unique, atmospheric sensibility that defies categorisation. The fullness of the vocal and instrumental blendings, the textures Walker and Davies create within the songs - this album is a remarkable achievement.
- Shaun Carney, Age Green Guide
Reviews for Soul Witness
- Richard Jinman, Marie Claire Whether jazzing sweetly …. railroad ramblin' or breathing fragile life into the poignant Dave McComb co-write "Evil Feelings", it's still the extraordinary purity of Walker's delivery that sets your heart sinking. ****
- Rolling Stone Wunderkind who may be the best thing out of Melbourne since Nick Cave…… is there a more exciting talent than Matt Walker treading the rock'n'roll boards in Australia right now? …. as a singer, songwriter and guitarist, he's touched by greatness….. what sticks with you is the perfect melding of Walker's youthful voice, with its tone of bruised innocence and the desperate conviction of these songs.
- Sydney Morning Herald Although one finds reminiscences of the large pioneers of the blues, the music of the two Australian ones is well theirs. Walker with the guitars… Davies with the battery……one should not any more to pass from the moistness of the bayous to great loneliness of the bush, with for common denominator the depth of the feelings. Rather than a rum or an Australian beer, you will take well a little Matt Walker & Ashley Davies between two Cognac-Tonics?”
- Blues Passions Festival, France
Reviews for new Self-Titled Matt Walker and Ashley Davies cd
Matt Walker & Ashley Davies - Our pick ARIA-winning Melbourne roots duo return after five years apart.
It's been a slightly frustrating five years since Soul Witness, the last album from Matt Walker and Ashley Davies. It won the 2000 ARIA for Best Blues Album but label-related red tape conspired to separate the Melbourne guitar-drums duo shortly afterwards. A self-titled third album finds them rekindling the spark in September.
I Listen to the Night pegged 24-year-old Walker as a songwriter to watch in '97 and Davies' dynamic backing sealed a warm, new roots feel heavy on improvisation. It blossomed into an exciting opening act on Bob Dylan's Australian tour of '98 before Sydney pianist Chris Abrahams and Cruel Sea bassist Ken Gormly expanded the duo's options on Soul Witness.
Walker has since kept busy with his band the Necessary Few, while Davies' projects included a well-received musical/narrative show about Ned Kelly with Kelly scholar Ian Jones. Their third album finds them equal writing partners, with a broad range of feels reflecting diverse experiences.
- Michael Dwyer, Fairfax Digital, August 2005
There’s something almost primordial about the organic, if raw, beauty in the music created by Matt Walker and Ashley Davies. The uncanny chemistry of this Melbourne-based duo is a marvel to behold. It's all about the marriage of red-wine-rich vocals, steel guitar and drums, as the mesmerising Technological Advances attests. More like the Tony Joe Whiteesque dirty swamp blues of Soul Witness Dirty Fog than the pristine beauty of their debut, I Listen To The Night, this self-titled disc manages to pull off rock, folk, blues and more effortlessly. The relationship has become more seasoned with time (it's five years since their last disc) and the interaction more symbiotic than ever. When Ashley takes a rare lead vocal on Try Harder or I Miss You (both about the threatened absence of love) or truckie ode Bulk Haulage, he's so assured. It's a wonder he never did it before. Welcome back - more please.
– Paul Nassari, Sunday Mail (Adelaide) August 21, 2005
As if the title doesn’t make it clear enough that Matt and Ash are back together again, the opening cut Sleep Over, surely does. “I never found myself, until I found you. You make me feel so good, that’s what I like about you. Why don’t you sleep over, my best friend?” It’s as bluesy as all-get-out, and fair warms the cockles of your heart at the same time. With Matt and Ash it’s often hard to believe that you’re only hearing guitar, drums and voices, and the single, Technological Advances – already getting great radio airplay – really stretches that belief, pumping out a nice line in the Black Keys meets early Oz blues-rock – it’s a ripper. With both Matt and Ashley now writing and singing, they’ve introduced harmony vocals, and self-describe I Miss You and Try Harder as, “a little like the Everly Brothers jamming with Slim Harpo”. Indeed! Try Harder is one of the standouts, while longtime fans may find I Miss You and (and Bulk Haulage) a little too close to commercial. A new, balls-to-the-wall version of Just Add Wine rocks hard enough to almost beat the Black Keys at their own game. The disc also includes a six minute video of interview and recording sessions footage.
- Kim Porter, Forte Magazine August 25, 2005
“Technological advances I don’t mind at all but right now all I need is some drums and a steel guitar.”
“ ….. from the lusty, overdriven blues of Sleep Over to the emotional, acoustic elegance of On The Street Tonight and Where You Been, the Melbourne duo’s range of moods and textures transcends the novelty of minimalism. The main development from their five-year recording hiatus is Davies’ emergence as an equal writing partner and singer, most notably on the barrelling speed-freak trucker’s monologue, Bulk Haulage, a song that gets inside its outlaw hero with true gonzo spirit. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the wistful instrumental that follows is called Hunter. Walker’s rich and distinctive vocal style, which involves a wonderfully serpentine approach to melody, remains the duo’s most arresting asset but from the sustained harmony of Try Harder to the frayed electric voodoo of Just Add Wine, the sense of mutual inspiration is hard to miss.
- Michael Dwyer, The Age September 02, 2005
..... "Right now all I need is some drums and a steel guitar ..... music is everything you hear."
Guitar and drums is fast becoming the line-up of the hour, but Matt Walker and Ashley Davies are not bandwagon jumpers, this being their third release in that configuration.
It helps that they are both among the best on their respective instruments, write good songs and sing well.
They also challenge their fans, particularly on the opening two tracks, the tone-heavy Sleep Over and their rockier Technological Advances. They grow with repeated playings on Bulk Haulage, the sweetly sung On The Street Tonight and the instrumental Hunter.
Walker gives a guitar workshop, lighting up on electric guitars and then turning gently acoustic while playing the lap steel.
Davies does what he did for Ray Vanderby, offering more evidence of his stellar abilities on drums.
- Lee Howard, Sunday Herald Sun September 11, 2005
After a five-year hiatus, Melbourne duo Matt Walker and Ashley Davies recently returned to record stores with an impressive new album.
The duo's simplistic sense of musicianship - some drums and a steel guitar - is not their only endearing characteristic. Their comeback album, released on September 5, might be the reason for this round of shows but you get the feeling they are just glad to be playing together. Right through the record, Walker alternates between his beloved steel pedal and the electric guitar for some imposing results.
This tour is the band's first since a successful European jaunt in July and August.
Despite the long wait between albums, Walker and Davies have an impressive legacy that includes winning an ARIA award in 2000 for their album Soul Witness, as well as support slots with such exalted names as Bob Dylan and Nick Cave.
This latest album was recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Richmond and was produced by Walker and Davies themselves.
After tonight's Melbourne launch of the album, the duo will hit the road through October for one of their most extensive national tours, accompanied by Melbourne singer-songwriter Sime Nugent.
- Andrew Murfett, The Age Saturday September 17, 2005
As a duo, Matt Walker and Ashley Davies have developed into one of the leading exponents of Australian blues. ARIA award winning bluesmen no less. They ply their trade competently over the course of this, their third, release. Walker with his guitars and harmonica and Davies with his drums bang their way through some beefy blues.
For starters, try the traditional delta sound of Sleep Over before Technological Advances reinforces their foundations. “Technological advances I don’t mind at all / Right now all I need is some drums and a steel guitar.” A simple equation that works well when deftly applied. Try Harder introduces that campfire sing-along element that is so essential to good blues tunes. Good ol’ foot stompin’ and singin’ all ‘round. On The Street Tonight is a more delicate urban lament. “Sometimes I feel so blue / I could start a fight.” Set to a laid-back rhythm it sounds all the more effective. Whilst I Miss You is a more general review of strained relationships.
When Walker lets rip with his slide guitar on Bulk Haulage, any amount of truckers would be able to relate to the sentiments of “If someone wasn’t paying off the coppers / I couldn’t keep this gig up and running.” Sung with passion and authority, you come to appreciate the difficulty associated with such a life. Road laws, sleepless nights and taxing schedules would send most over the brink. But the freedom of the road keeps the driver going.
As the sole instrumental, Hunter balances the album nicely. At its best, this album is spirited melodic fare with some high-wire soloing which could easily give the impression of some American deep-south roots. Walker and Davies display not only the ability to set their voices to tight arrangements but also to knock off blues goodies with aplomb. And just in case you wanted more, there is the deranged Just Add Wine, co-written with one D. Graney, and a CD doco for your viewing pleasure.
- Bronius Zumeris, Beat Magazine September 20, 2005
After 2000’s Soul Witness which garnered Matt Walker (and Ashley Davies, whose name was appended in smaller type on the album cover) an ARIA in the Blues & Roots category, their profile lifted somewhat, and things were looking rosy for the pair. However, they went their separate ways not long after. Now sees the duo reforming, releasing a self-titled album (with both names in equal type) and interestingly song-writing credits pretty much cut right down the middle.
With their time apart, the first thing apparent on the album is the sense of confidence and comfort coming through. Walker seems to have concentrated on his singing somewhat, with the distinctive twang still present, as is his idiosyncratic vocal skewing across melodies and rhythms, but he seems to be holding notes for longer, and placing greater emphasis on actual pronunciation of them. In regards to their playing cohesion, anyone who has seen their live shows can testify to their almost innate communication, surely needed when Walker launches off on one of his frenetic acoustic or lap steel projections.
Technological Advances is probably the most fervent of the tracks here vis-a’-vis their old wig-out days, but the most exuberant cut on the album, and a surprise standout, is the Davies track Bulk Haulage, an almost straight down the county line, country-diner truckin’ standard were it not for the guys’ handling of it. Elsewhere Sleep Over is a great, slow-burning blues driven number on the pedal steel to open proceedings, and On The Street Tonight is another Walker highlight, showcasing his more down the middle songwriting skills on the acoustic.
This is a solid reunion for the pair, with Davies’ added contributions enhancing the diversity. It might not contain the hooks of the like-minded and like-sounding Fat Possum duo The Black Keys out of Ohio, nor contain a truly explosive instrumental that the guys have become renowned for, but with the anticipation surrounding this album quite high considering their history, it is far from disappointing.
– Jayson Argall, Inpress Magazine September 21, 2005
As far as two-pieces go, The White Stripes are OK, The Black Keys better, The Mess Hall better still! So what about Matt Walker and Ashley Davies who have been doing longer than all three bands combined? If their latest self–titled album is anything to go by, these guys are set to rule the roost. Their brand of old fashioned, blues based rock is incredibly accessible, bloody awesome, immediate and very impressive. First single Technological Advances was a tease as the remaining nine songs satisfy what is an incredible thirst. Matt’s guitar picking and lap steel work is sharp, Ash’s drumming intense and up–beat. They both sing, giving this duo an extra edge the others don’t have and their songs seem to have purpose, be it the slow blues drawl of Sleep Over, the toe–tappin’ Try Harder or the harmonica wielding heartache sentiment of I Miss You. Whichever way you look at it, Matt and Ash should be commended for sticking to their guns because this is one of the best Australian releases this year – no questions!
- Mark Rasmussen, The Buzz Magazine - September, 2005 ****
When in full flight, nothing can touch the transcendental, improvisational edge this ARIA-winning drums-and-guitar duo achieve. One of the best pickers in this country, Matt Walker’s guitar lines duck and weave around themselves whether he’s letting rip on lap steel, wringing emotional atmosphere out of an electric, or setting an intimate acoustic mood; while Ashley Davies flails around his kit, either keeping solid time or accenting Walker’s work with flourishes that sound like a storm of bees in a balloon. Reunited after a few years of separate projects, the pair mostly write individually. But once together, they play with joyful synchronicity, veering from sublime subtlety to unbridled intensity. Walker’s vocals are maturing with age, developing a richness, and Davies’ harmonies add depth to an act that deserve more attention that they receive.
– Luke Anisimoff, Rolling Stone, November 2005 ****
Drum and guitar two piece bands may be all the rage at the moment, but Melbourne has had a fine proponent of this minimalist form working for more than 10 years. After a couple of albums and a reasonable break, this self-titled third release see Walker and Davies back in the saddle and back at their best – practically live and delivering blistering guitar, emphatic pounding drums and heartfelt vocals in equal measure. With these two it’s often the bits between the singing where they really come into their own. But when they get all three elements firing – as they do here on Technological Advances, Standing At The Station, the Dave Graney co-write Just Add Wine and Bulk Haulage – they take it to another level.
– Rich Webb, Sunday Age, October 9, 2005
There’s something bold and beautiful about a guitar-and-drums duo. Long before the White Stripes burst on the scene, lap steeler Matt Walker and drummer Ashley Davies teamed up to make rowdy, droning, rootsy rock that owes as much to the Velvet Underground as it does to Howlin’ Wolf. On this album—the duo’s first studio release since 1997’s churning I Listen to the Night—Walker moves between grinding lap steel, ringing flat-top, and whistling bottleneck to play noisy rockers, swampy blues, and even jangly folk-rock. Everything has an edgy, spontaneous feel that’s fed by the two Aussies’ telepathic interplay. Walker’s psychedelic steel licks are especially inspiring. If you believe music should sound wild and free, you’ll dig this. (Stovepipe)
“Right now all I need is some drums and a steel
guitar”, verkondigen Matt Walker en Ashley Davies op Technological Advances,
het tweede nummer van de cd Matt Walker & Ashley Davies (Stovepipe/MGM).
“Music is everything you hear, it’s everywhere.” Het Australische duo maakt
dat meer dan waar op hun derde cd samen. Met zijn tweeen zijn ze heel wat
mans, want geen moment lijkt er ook maar iets te ontbreken in de bluesy
rootsrock die ze brengen. Net als The White Stripes en The Black Keys
bewijzen ze dat slechts twee personen nodig zijn voor een zeer krachtig
geluid, maar dan anders. Matt Walker komt over als het broertje van Rainer
Ptacek en Chris Whitley en samen met Ashley Davies maakt hij net zulke rauwe
muziek. Davies (drums, zang) stuwt Walker (gitaren, zang, lapsteel,
harmonica) voort, jachtig, maar geen moment overhaast. Zelfs het op eerste
gehoor tamelijk relaxte On The Street Tonight krijgt dankzij Davies een
enorme drive. De plaat werd live in de studio opgenomen in Melbourne en het
slidespel van Walker is doorlopend inventief en origineel. De twee slagen er
bovendien in om volop variatie te bieden. Wonderschoon, werkelijk.
- John Gjaltema, www.altcountry.nl June, 2006 |
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