Stephen Oliver’s voice packs all the tonal shifts of a heavy-duty gearbox.
The resonance is bedrock; Richard Burton, Dylan Thomas, Ken Nordine rolled into one.
Matt Ottley’s compositions make for a collaboration of high originality, moving effortlessly through modern classical, rock, blues, and jazz notation.
Oliver’s poems challenge, delight, and entertain. Beat for beat, groove for groove, Oliver & Ottley perfectly counterpoint one another. The words and the music deliver exactly what this recording promises: a King Hit.
Poems written and read by Stephen Oliver.
Music composed by Matt Ottley except the accompaniment to “The Gray Glas Song”, which is a free improvisation by Willy McElroy on the bodhran.
Stephen Oliver (words) grew up in Brooklyn-west, Wellington, New Zealand. He has travelled extensively and up until recently lived in Australia for 20 years. His most recent collection of poetry is titled Either Side The Horizon (Titus Books, Auckland / Sydney, 2005). He has worked in the broadcasting industry both in Australia and New Zealand, freelancing as production voice, newsreader, feature writer, copywriter, producer, etc. His next book of poetry, Harmonic, is due out from IP in 2008.
Matt Ottley (music) grew up in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea where he spent the first eleven and a half years of his life. He led an itinerate life as a stockman in Queensland before returning to Sydney to study fine arts and music. He is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors/illustrators with such classics as What Faust Saw and Mrs Millie’s Painting. His books are published in several languages. He is also a composer and flamenco guitarist.
Musicians:
Hester Hannah (soprano)
Ian Knowles (cello)
Matt Ottley (keyboards, guitars, oud)
Willy McElroy (bodhran)
The Wilson’s Creek Country Men’s Association Auxiliary Choir
(with thanks to Prakash, Shunyam, Gary, Will, Willy, Heiro)
The Huonbrook Sinfonia directed by H. Bosch
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