|
|
 |
|
|
WEB OF DREAMS
The 2003 Golden Guitar was particularly important for Michael because it recognised a labour of love — a tribute album he recorded in memory of guitar great BARRY THORNTON. And it also acknowledged the talents of two of Michael (and Barry’s) protegés: rising stars of the guitar world MICHAEL MUCHOW and BENJY POCKOCK.
"I think Barry was looking down and smiling. That project just came out of nowhere, and came together so quickly, so it was wonderful to win an award for it," Michael said.
"The song which won the award, Mulga Dan, captured the happy, positive side of Barry that inspired so many fans and artists over the years. I hope it makes people smile when they remember him."
Mulga Dan went on to win another award for Michael just two weeks later: the Victorian Country Music Award for Instrumental of the Year.
But since then, Michael has been focusing on a very different kind of album, his latest release, Web Of Dreams.
A beautiful, evocative and emotionally powerful album, Web Of Dreams explores feelings, moods and atmospheres.
"Someone once described my music as ‘scenic’, and I suppose in a sense that’s what this album is like. It’s about landscapes — but in this case emotional landscapes, soundtracks to dreams, memories, thoughts and feelings," Michael said.
"I tend to write like that — putting music to the images, scenes, ideas and emotions in my mind. I want people to be able to close their eyes and feel the emotion or situation I’m writing about."
The album is relatively laid-back and acoustic, with the focus on solo guitar, although other instruments have been selectively brought in to add to the feeling of some tracks.
"I’d originally intended it to be very stripped back and sparse, with just solo acoustic guitar, but I realised that a few of the tracks needed input from other instruments. So I brought in some wonderful musicians I’ve been working with, including Jo Lack on violin and Rikki Chaplin on piano," Michael said.
Web Of Dreams features a five-minute CD-ROM video, "The Making of Web Of Dreams", which takes fans into Michael’s studio and shows them the instruments used on the album, as well as giving Michael a chance to talk about his music and what inspires it.
"Making the video was a lot of fun, and it provides a real focal point for the album, exploring how my music is created, and how the finished product is recorded," Michael said.
Michael says the tracks on Web Of Dreams were inspired by everything from childhood memories of the beach to an inability to dance.
"There’s a nostalgic look at the beach I knew as a child in Port Kembla, titled Waves, and a fun track I’ve called Two Left Feet, which all musicians will identify with!" Michael said.
Thumb Thing (say it out loud) was the product of a thumb-picking exercise Michael put together for his column in Australian Guitar magazine, while tracks like Passionfruit, Web Of Dreams and When A Teardrop Falls are impressive examples of Michael’s ability to capture and convey pure and powerful emotion.
One highlight is the moving Footprints In My Heart, inspired by a framed saying on the wall of a cottage on Mt Tamborine, and also included is Michael’s version of the old jazz standard Fever.
The album will get its first international airing next year, when Michael performs at a medieval castle in Tuscany. He’s been invited to appear at a major guitar festival in the town of Sarzana. TOMMY EMMANUEL has been a festival regular in the past.
In addition to Web of Dreams, Michael has also recorded a brand new single, the frenetically paced Feeding Frenzy, which will be featured on the 2003 Gympie Muster fundraising album.
Michael has just finished a number of shows at the Gympie Muster, and will head to Jamberoo this month to perform at the Illawarra Folk Festival, then to Grafton for the Grafton Artsfest, where he’ll present his week-long Guitar Power! workshop for the third year in a row.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
