You could probably convince someone that Ryley Walker’s debut long player is the work of some long-lost UK singer-songwriter from the 1970s. Recalling at different moments John Martyn, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and Nick Drake, All Kinds Of You conjures up a mystical, classic Britfolk feel — it’s even got a cover photograph that would fit in perfectly with that scene. But Walker is actually a 20-something dude from Chicago who made experimental/noise music before setting his sights on Albion. Lucky us — the album is a beauty. Far from being a mere pastiche artist, Walker really inhabits these songs and the sound that accompanies them. Not many guitarists could pull off the densely picked patterns of Jansch & Renbourn with such ease and attitude — check out the storming, Pentangle-y instrumental “Twin Oaks pt. 1” for evidence. Recorded with Cave’s Cooper Crain manning the boards, the album has a rich ambiance, with groaning cellos, jazzy drums and airy piano surrounding Walker’s old soul voice and guitar. It may conjure up memories of a bygone era, but All Kinds Of You sure sounds great in 2014. words / t wilcox
9 thoughts on “Ryley Walker :: All Kinds Of You”
Comments are closed.
This is new?? Searching out more now…
Such a great record. Love his commentary on each of the tracks here: http://www.self-titledmag.com/2014/04/08/stream-ryley-walkers-all-kinds-of-you-album-and-read-his-commentary/
That intro reminds me of Michael Chapman’s “Fully Qualified Survivor.” Good stuff.
What a find.
Thanks for the discovering, LP of the month at least. Great sound.
This is great! Reminds me a little of one of my heroes, the criminally overlooked finger picking master Davy Graham.
Beautiful! Just listened to it twice on spotify… thanks for the tip!