Steve Wells: Songs for Summer Rain (digital outlets)

 |   |  <1 min read

Steve Wells: Songs for Summer Rain (digital outlets)

This artist's name will be familiar if you remember the hugely popular rock band Fur Patrol who had a number one single with Lydia in 2001 and relocated to Melbourne. They started at the bottom over there, but still toured and recorded.

Guitarist Wells quit the band in 2004 and went to Paris with his family where he started a successful career as a fashion photographer.

But here he is again with an album on which guitar is the least obvious element on a collection of (mostly) instrumentals which have a dreamlike, gravity defying feel (Under the Waves), ease towards elegant electro-prog (Makeshift Heart), cinematic ambience (See Softer,), moody prog-rock (Not What You Want, Look Out the Window) . . .

For anyone who has explored similar albums which have appeared over the past few decades, Songs for Summer Rain is perhaps more interesting than essential.

But if Wells wanted a calling card for soundtracks, sound design in films or simply to nudge his way into ambient music he's got one here.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

Various: The Great New Zealand Songbook (Thom/Sony)

Various: The Great New Zealand Songbook (Thom/Sony)

This nattily packaged double disc with Dick Frizzell's clever twist on an iconic and familiar Kiwi image as the cover arrives in time for New Zealand Music Month -- but already has the feel of the... > Read more

Popstrangers: Antipodes (Unspk)

Popstrangers: Antipodes (Unspk)

Because international writers can often take a more dispassionate view of New Zealand culture -- witness the difference between local and overseas reviews of The Hobbit; ours mostly loved it,... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

THE BIRTH OF BEBOP -- A SOCIAL AND MUSICAL HISTORY by SCOTT DEVEAUX

THE BIRTH OF BEBOP -- A SOCIAL AND MUSICAL HISTORY by SCOTT DEVEAUX

Suggesting that this engrossing, historically investigative and anecdotally amusing book should be reviewed because it asked the question, "Was bebop jazz a revolution or simply a musical... > Read more

THE BARGAIN BUY: Bruce Springsteen; Wrecking Ball (Sony)

THE BARGAIN BUY: Bruce Springsteen; Wrecking Ball (Sony)

The occasional bombast, celebrity and popularity of Bruce Springsteen alienates many, but strip away the last two factors and any fair assessment says he frequently delivers classic rock'n'roll... > Read more