Gold
Self-Released, 2022
9/10
The Australian composer Ashley Davies brings his multi-instrumental skills to this rock based listen that often tips its hat to the ‘60s and welcomes plenty of guests for the very diverse affair.
“Birth” gets the listen off to a swift, jangly start, where classic rock nods are met with scrappy drumming and no lack of melody and harmonic vocals, and “Bush” follows with spirited electric guitar and an exploratory, rhythmic nature.
The title track occupies the middle spot, and brings much chilling ambience that embraces soulful brass amid the jazz sensibilities and dreaminess, while “Meeting” showcases intricate acoustic guitar and bright horns alongside the playful drumming.
The final 2 tracks, “Lost” and “Death”, are equally meticulous, where the former is heavy on mood and alternates between minimalism and thick bursts of rock, and the latter uses piano strategically alongside wordless vocals and atypical grooves.
A listen that inches pretty close to prog-rock, Davies makes for a truly unique, sonically engaging body of work that’s textured in unpredictable and complicated ways that you can’t not be in awe of.
Travels well with: Delay Tactics- Elements Of Surprise; Zan Zone- Start Where You Stand