“A memory ghost is a memory that is so strong, it’s left an invisible mark so it can never be forgotten. Some memory ghosts are so strong they cause an eruption of emotions.”
In celebration of his 62nd year as a musician, Australian Blues Griot STEVE TALLIS delivers his latest release, Memory Ghost – a spectacular, audacious 3CD set comprising a monumental 66 songs and nearly 4 hours of music, recorded live first take – a limited edition of 1,000 copies and all in glorious mono. Critics have described his music as “Vodou Blues!” while others have declared Tallis to be a “Blues Shaman”, “Part Buddha, Demon, Mad Angel”, a “Sorcerer of Sounds”, a “Bluesologist”. His style is unique in an Australian context with names such as Howlin’ Wolf, Dr. John, Captain Beefheart, Bob Dylan, Leadbelly and Tom Waits mentioned by way of reference points. Tallis digs deep into his spirit, incorporating Country Blues, Rock, Spirituals, Gospel and Field Hollers. Complex layers that plunder the depths of the human experience. Songs of love, desire, death, sex, politics, romance, skeletons, elephants, redemption, the devil, hobos, ghosts – challenging, intense, raw, sincere, enriching, unpredictable, fearless, restless, tender, intense, reflective, bohemian, sensitive, radical, a musical outlaw, a renegade – observing, contemplating, reflecting and commenting on the world around him.
“Un Leadbelly du XXIe siècle”(“A Leadbelly of the 21st century”) – Franck Colombani @ Le Monde, France
CD#1 with Gary Ridge (Percussion, Loops) – Outstanding self-penned songs such as ‘Jezebel is on the Prowl’, ‘Bite the Bullet’ and ‘I’d Rather be a Hobo than a Bobo’ nestle next to traditional numbers such as ‘True Religion’, ‘The Devil’s on the Mainline’ and Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘God Moves on the Water’. The loops and percussion behind the field hollers and spoken word tracks are outstanding, powerful and unique. The missing link between the ancient and the modern, sauntering into realms previously unexplored
“In a musical milieu that values tradition he is a bit of a loose cannon, a maverick, a highly individual performer with a strong sense of self-worth. I’ve never heard anyone outside the black music idiom perform a cappella field hollers with such power and commitment.” – Mark Doherty @ Rhythms Magazine
CD#2 – Steve Tallis and The Snakes of Desire – Phil Bradley (Guitars), Yugon Chobanoff (Drums) and Hans-Aage Deberitz (Bass). Here The Snakes of Desire get downright deep and dirty with raunchy blues rock that will get your hips a’shakin’ and your feet a’jumpin’. ‘It Never Entered My Mind’, ‘Two Sides to Every Story’, ‘Where Many Rivers Meet’ and ‘Cut Your Heart in Two’ crackle with powerful guitar riffs and Tallis’s rich vocal tones. Seductive “Snake Music”.
CD#3 – Solo – Vocals and 6 & 12 String Acoustic Guitars The music is drenched in emotionally charged, deep seated memories. “I’m settling my account with God” Tallis sings in ‘I Beg Your Pardon’. Once again, ‘The Memory Ghost’, ‘Lizard’ and ‘Arrows of Desire’ match it with versions of John Lee Hooker’s ‘I’m Mad Again’, Willie Dixon’s ‘Same Thing’ and Jagger-Richards’ ‘Spider and the Fly’. Songs of simple truths that resonate with a universality that crosses time and culture – driven by the spirit of rebellion – cut to the core.
“Uncompromising in his artistic integrity and openly venomous about anything that irks him. One of the few artists brave enough to stand naked and imperfect within an industry that encourages conformity and compliance.” Phil Bennet @ Nova Magazine
The powerful image on the cover is by Steve’s friend, French artist Frédéric Voisin.
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