Album Notes

SELF TORT is the recording and performance pseudonym of Brian Ralston. Brian was the lead guitarist in a band called "Sirrah" based in Sydney, Australia in the 1970s. Unable to get the music bug out of his system he formed a band "Mid Life Crisis" in the 1990s and by this time was playing keyboard and doing backing vocals. When that band ceased performing he decided to do it all himself and created "SELF TORT".

This is SELF TORT's debut album. It covers a wide range of styles from the funk of the opening track "Best Man", to the blues/rock of the final cut "Mid Life Crisis" (and be sure to check out the lyrics of that track). On the way you'll pass through some reggae ("Unvictorian Victoria"), swing/pop ("Tonight"), 60s influenced pop ("Frankenstein's Bride", "Not Quite Kelly"), some deeply reflective ballads ("Get it Right This Time", "Train the Horses") and a whole lot more.

This album reflects SELF TORT's experiences of life. Lyrically the tracks range from the deeply personal ("Get it Right This Time"), to political ("Hardie's Men"), almost psychedelic ("Harlequin") and humorous ("Mid Life Crisis", "Frankenstein's Bride")

SELF TORT's influences include Pete Townsend, Ray Davies, Peter Gabriel, Jack Bruce, Joe Cocker and Van Morrison but after 30 years of playing music SELF TORT has now found his own voice. Here is the result.