"...an asthma rating of ten."
The Davidson Brothers - 2009 Golden Guitar Winners - Snowy Mountains of Music, June 2009
"It's honest, personal, humorous, cheeky [...] unashamedly celebrating being local in an Australian voice [...] something that made me feel good [...] it's a record that warms me quite a bit."
Tim Ritchie - ABC Radio National Breakfast - Monday, March 30, 2009
HIGHLY TALENTED WIT AND WAG
CD review by Jamie Forbes
Bega District News Friday, March 20, 2009
Pete Wild's eponymously titled debut CD is a wild grab-bag of musical stylings celebrating life in the Bega Valley, in particular the cosy joys of the frantically creative village of Candelo, which, according to Wild's website, is "the centre of the universe." It's certainly the centre of the stories told in the generous helping of songs included here. Recorded in several local studios and utilising the fine services of eighteen musicians, this is an ambitious album that almost always kicks the tricky goals it's set itself. Wild is a hugely talented multi-instrumentalist (here you'll find him handling vocals, piano, guitar, ukulele and keyboards) and a songwriter who is by schizophrenic turns determined to write astoundingly complex melodies and lyrics and then just as likely to go for the most simplistic and repetitive lines you're ever likely to come across … often in the same song!
He's a wit and a wag too, this Wild, as we soon discover.
The album gets off to a fine start with the deliciously hooky horn lines of "Blahdiblah", instantly calling Van Morrison to mind, although it's another artist entirely whose influence is very much apparent here and, indeed, throughout the album. Pete Wild is a self-confessed Ben Folds fan and he unashamedly shows it, from his piano playing (pounding rock here, jazzy wanderings there) to his lyrics (laugh out loud silliness in many of the early tracks, darkly brooding later on).
Next up is the first of Wild's many love songs to Candelo, "Market Day", celebrating, of course, that one Sunday a month when the normally sleepy village actually does seem to become the centre of the universe, especially around tourist seasons. It's a sweet and sly song. Wild's observations are spot on: pretty, proud and even political.
Then things start to get quirky.
"Clone" is a Madness-style romp (check out that horn section), followed by the only song on the album Wild didn't have a hand in writing, "Bega Town." This track is joyous, jaunty, unapologetically daggy and enormous fun. Written by Ailsa Wild (Pete's sister) and Jenny Giles it fits perfectly into Pete's oeuvre and you won't be able to get it out of your head for five or six years, so consider yourself warned.
The album takes a moody and more introspective turn soon after the nutty joy of "Bega" and it's a welcome change of pace. "Home" is a stand out, employing tight, close, spare rhythms while "City" and "Sunday" are unsettlingly mysterious ruminations. After the rather self-explanatory "Drought", Wild gets the quirk back in his step with songs like "Yesterday's Clothes" (he likes wearing 'em) and "Wife" (she's got eczema … thanks for sharing, Pete). The album is topped off with "Hair" (hey, why should he have all the fun?), the seemingly obligatory (these days) last-track-that-only-goes-for-forty-to-fifty-seconds. It's a wonderfully silly and very fitting closer that wouldn't be out of place on a Monty Python album.
It's unfortunate that I don't have the space here to name check the excellent musicians that contributed to this album because each and every one turns in fine work. (Buy the album and read the liner notes!) Wild's songs are replete with rollicking fiddle and banjo work, smooth brass and sweet strings, usually with a small, tight core band keeping things right on track.
pete wild is a bold and adventurous album not afraid to dag it up and take a walk on the silly side. Not at all a bad thing these days.
PETE PUTS ON MEMORABLE SHOW
Album launch concert - review by Andrew Gray
Bega District News Friday, February 13, 2009
Pete Wild is a very generous musician and performer, and he knows how to put together a memorable show.
His album launch last Friday night at the Candelo Town Hall had so much to offer.
For starters, Pete’s songs are quirky, whimsical, honest and moving. Lyrically he sings of the life he experiences and sees around him, in ways that you can easily relate to. As you get caught up in his words, it’s easy to overlook Pete’s relaxed mastery of both piano and guitar.
Musically Pete ranges across folk ballads, jaunty pop, country, blues and jazz.
As with his album, Pete’s concert brought together a diverse range of excellent local musicians. Jay McMahon on drums, Roby Martin on bass/vocals, Sam Martin on guitar/piano and Heath Cullen on guitar/vocals were and ideal backing group for many tracks, providing an understated and appropriate complement to the songs. Throughout the concert, Pete was joined by a diverse range of local musicians playing double bass, strings, horns fiddle slide guitar and didgeridoo. He even slipped in a group of madrigal singers.
In all, 25 musicians were featured during the concert, sharing the energy and joy Pete brings to his music. And if that wasn’t enough he had a group of young dancers perform, complete with Pete Wild masks for “Clones”.
In over two hours of music, Pete performed songs from his debut album as well as a number of covers. This included the particularly memorable “Fun Run” where Pete changed into running shorts and shirt, and literally jogged, ran and sprinted on the spot throughout the whole song.
And just like Pete’s marathon run, the audience stayed the distance – even many of the kids up th front sitting with rapt attention to the end.
They all know they were part of a very special experience.
Not just great music and musicians, but also that strong sense of a community coming together to celebrate its stories, creativity and talent.
If you weren’t among the lucky crowd at Candelo that night, you may just have to take second best and get a copy of Pete Wild’s album.
It’s not as good a feeling as being there, but it’s a mighty fine consolation prize.