Customer Reviews

Long Weekend

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have listened to this cd frequently. I discovered Chris whilst visiting Melbourne last November and heard the man live in a small bar in Carlton. He is truly a rare artist who is even better live than in the studio.

The long weekend is a super piece of work and it covers a broad range of styles. Chris's versatility comes through exceptionally well. I agree with another review on this page - Live at the continental is a must have! Having met the man personally I can only say that he is as gentle and humane as his writing suggests. I cannot praise this man enough - a true master.

Just a quick note to prepare you for this album. Do some research and grab a copy of Chris' "Live At The Continental". Turn it up very loud, distort the mind and make love to your partner. You're now primed for a listening of Long Weekend.

Chris Wilson is a living treasure of the Melbourne music scene. A distinctive soulful baritone voice, genius harmonica virtuoso, with impeccable choice of material. If this humble guy was playing in the States he would be a superstar.
I recommend you track down everything he has ever done, then buy extra copies for people you really love.

Okay that might sound like a patronising Englishman's view, and I admit to being surprised how strong the music scene is in Melbourne. From being a Paul Kelly sideman, on harmonica, I didn't expect him to have such a mature and soulful voice. All songs on the cd were written by Wilson, and though they may lack a little originality in style, I cannot be disappointed by the variety and what he puts into them. I haven't heard any previous recordings, but saw a gritty, bad tempered and very satisfying performance by him and a 5 piece in a Melbourne hotel, The Espy. Contrast that with a big venue show in Sydney where he was solo with a sit down acoustic guitarist-emotional, gut wrenching, tender and powerful. These two sides have been caught in the studio, although the heavy blues band only has about four of the 22 tracks. Catch the tale of 'Little Richard''s pearls lost in Sydney Harbour!A CD I'm proud to have found.

Within the seemingly narrow vein of country and blues, with a hint of R&B, Chris Wilson has produced a CD release of surprising diversity, with many shades of light and dark, humour and despair, insight and wonder, and enough hooks to leave you wanting more than one listen. I actually like how in this release his voice is more restrained and therefore his phrasing much more pliable and interesting than in previous releases. There are hints of the usual Wilson power, but only in small doses which make those instances more striking and, in the listener, the will to see the man perform live even more intense (such as this Thursday, for instance....).

Breaking down the CDs (it's a double CD release for single CD price) the first CD starts with a country/blues mix with the emphasis sliding from blues to country and then back to blues again by the end of the disc. The voice and the harmonica playing are unmistakable, but the band have a slightly cleaner sound than on previous albums. Although not a totally negative development, there seems to be a definite gap in the sound that was previously filled by the acoustic and electric guitar mastery of Shane O'Mara (now no doubt busy with his other band "Rebecca's Empire"). A bit of guts lost. Overall the first CD comes across as a traditional set of songs paying homage to the many influences of Wilson's music life: A musically balanced, lyrically rich 40 minutes that is satisfying in a deeper musical sense, but seems to lack the edge or the innovation hoped for......

But wait ! This is a double CD release and on listening to the second disk, the standing of the first is lifted immeasurably. Wilson's apparent design to lay foundation and then dazzle with hard edged exploration of blues and R&B, the second CD, has been carried out almost to perfection. Not only is the listener prepared and ready for the lateral slide into blues fused with WHATEVER, thoughts of the previous disc bring on a feel of rediscovery, thus the need to listen again but with a set of new tools. The overall feeling one gets on finishing is the completion of a journey taken through the childhood of Wilson, listening to the sounds that moulded his vision, and then to the present where the continual changing and risk-taking leads him to a new purpose and a new vision, and hopefully to some long overdue commercial success. And what a great journey it is.

Chris Wilson is a legend on the Melbourne scene with his huge voice and amazing harmonica exploits. He has hit the button with this double CD and has drawn on a group of friends to compliment on songs where appropriate. Do yourselves a favour and have a listen to major talent.