Harry Smith
First appeared - Issue #12

In 1952 the ‘Harry Smith Anthology of Folk Music’ was released. It was a compilation of eighty four folk, blues and gospel performances on six LPs from the Depression era, collected by the greatest collector of them all Harry Smith, avante garde filmmaker, painter, friend of many a beat poet and Mingus and Monk. He was thought to have had the largest ever collection of paper aeroplanes.

Fifty years later three young musicians inspired enough to name their band after him decide to record their second CD in their shared house in Mount Lawley. Bill Darby (guitar, vocals-O, Gadzooks and Gata Negra), Ant Gray (guitar, vocals-Air Ensemble, Schvendes and The Honeyriders), Pete Guazzelli (drums, vocals-King Wasabi, Gata Negra) put down six tracks with the aid of sound engineer Steve “Objet” Dart. They then proceed to forget about these “beds” until in a truly Smithsonian act they dig them up again in 2005 rediscovering their potential. The respective songwriters in the band take away the songs to their respective bedrooms and layer them with all manners of harps, organs, vibes and as is the case on the song ‘At Sea’ add the musical saw of Sodastream’s Pete Cohen. Sufficiently happy they decide to release the CD. What shall they call it? Why not ‘Preleigh’? Since the beginning of this year they have added a dedicated bass player in the shape of Leigh (ex-Petanque) McGowen. Grabs entertained Pete Guazzelli at the Groove fun pad with some milky tea and stale biscuits. Pete plopped on the CD and Grabs was truly amazed. A definite progression from EP#1 hs show off their three lead singers and writers so there is quite a variance. Opening song ‘Drive’, with its distorted vocals remind you of a cross between Iggy Pop, John from The Volcanics and Frank Black. ‘Sugar Bomb’ is a very funky unison of bass and guitar with a great time signature and Tim Rogersesque vocal musings. Head and shoulders above the others is the ballad ‘At Sea’ with excellent vocals and seaworthy cymbal work. Like most of the tracks ‘Shopping Carts and Ferris Wheels’ relies heavily on a magnificent groove from the Pete meister. ‘Catch’ catches Ant Gray in a nice vocal with Bill Frizellian guitar noodlings. These guys are quirky but they rock. To rock with them go to the launch of ‘Preleigh’ at Mojos on Guy Fawkes Night Saturday November 5^th for more musical fireworks.

peter_guazzelli@yahoo.com