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Recently we came into possession of a Cd, that consists of six tracks that will make up a Cd yet to be completed, and yet to have a release date set. Further, we have not even been able to determine the name of the group, although the working title of the album is "Pale New Sun".
In a message from Chris today, he has indicated the album is only days away from being finished. We hope to bring more news very shortly!
Why is it important to write about it?
Well, there is one very good reason, the main man concerned is the legendary Chris Stockley. For those not in the know, Chris has been active on the Australian music scene since around 1964, and just some of the groups he has been in include. The Delta Set and The Roadrunners (1964 - 1967), Cam-pact (1967 - 1969), Axiom (1969 - 1971), the (absolutely legendary) Dingoes (1973 - 1977), Southern Cross (1977 - 1978), Stockley See & Mason (1978 - 1981) and more recently, he joined some of the cream of Australian musicians in being part of a "Super-group" that supported Brian Cadd and Glenn Shorrock on their national "Sharky and the Cadman" tour.
From 1981 onward Chris seemed to loose his musical way a little, he continued playing with some very fine musicians including Mike Rudd, but instead of music focused upon a business venture with his wife.
More recently he appeared again with Glyn Mason and Sam See at the final shows at the magnificent but now no longer existing, Station Hotel in Greville Street Prahran.
Those who know Chris say, that Chris had seemed to have lost confidence, which I find amazing. I should say I have known Chris since those early heady days in the early 1960's, and he always stood out as a very good guitarist, who often boardered on brilliant, so this news came as a surprise.
Now in possession of these six tracks of music, I can say confidently, that he is back!
I am familiar with the track marked number 6 but first on the Cd as I have it - titled "Two Dollar Peeps", I first heard Chris play and sing this when he appeared with See and Mason at the Station Hotel in 2011, although I believe Chris had composed it even prior to this date. When I heard it it seemed like a novel Country/Rock tune with the emphasis on country.
However, I wasn't ready for the version on this Cd. Although it was indicated that it would be track 6 on a final production Cd, it came up first on the Cd "Music Whispers" came to obtain, and it's a real rocking track, with a touch of country, and it totally blew me away. I simply was not ready for what I heard!
What I have done is to give you, the reader, some idea of what I am hearing by providing a small sample of each track, without giving the whole story away - as I think we will wait for the final production before that is done.
I was immediately struck by the excellent production work, combined with some excellent playing (and I don't know who the muso's are), but Chris has raised it from a semi-novelty type track into a very dance oriented rock piece, with some fantastic guitar work.
Two Dollar Peeps (sample)
By now the Cd really had my interest. So I was very curious about the next track, "Trick of the Light".
A little more lay-back, not unlike a typical Dingoes track, it has that beautiful element of well written words and a gentle but powerful musical composition supporting the lyrics. This track really opened my thinking to the quality of Chris' voice. He doesn't have a magnificently powerful voice, but what he does have is an expressive, honest voice with a very interesting nasality. In many ways it had me thinking about the reasons why vocalists like Lennon and Dylan became so popular. Neither of these guys had magnificent voices, certainly not blessed with the "Golden Tonsils", yet they are imminently recognisable and loved.
I believe that this is the right way to appraise Chris's vocals.
Trick of the Light (sample)
Track number 3 - "Pig Alley", is in fact, very reminiscent of a Dylan type composition and even his delivery at times is very much Dylan, not in vocal tonality as much as the half spoken half sung delivery style of Dylan. I like it, and like it a lot - it suits Stockley and as for the music, once again the words, both in power of imagery and passion come to mind.
Pig Alley (sample)
Yet amongst this powerful music, power in terms of tempo and "rockability", one track stands out because its power comes to us through its evocative emotion and in fact, it is a strikingly "down-tempo" track. Titled "The Consoler", it kicks off in a most gentle manner and creates an emotional mood that will stop you in your tracks and demand you listen. Then, at around 2 minutes we, the listeners" are hit with a power chord and the minimalistic backing becomes full, rich and emotive. It is a track that suggests it is part of Chris' life being lay bare before us.
The Consoler (sample)
Always a dangerous thing to say, but I think this is probably the strongest track so far, in six very good tracks. It is my favourite!
Suddenly I realise that I am almost doing a review, which is somewhat unfair to the guys involved in this project, as it isn't complete. So when it is, you can expect a full and frank evaluation. But I can say this, the overall production is very very good, and the word that was whispered to "Music Whispers" was that James Black was the man behind the production! For those who have been hiding away in the "Sound of Music" for the last few decades, James is a most notable musician in his own right, having had association with such iconic groups as Men At Work, Black Sorrows and Mondo Rock.
Listening to what I have been given, I think Chris is on a winner. It's been a long time coming and I think the time is right.
The other two tracks ("A Little Knowledge" and "One Step Ahead") are similar in one respect, they are beautifully crafted and the musicianship doesn't falter once.
Chris has so far come up with six strong tracks, each seems to be crafted with the ear and experience of a musician who has been playing for the majority of fifty years - hell, he may not like that being recognised, but, there is no substitute for experience, especially when it is backed up by skill and talent.
The man is not just a very good composer, he is an excellent guitarist and I believe, if he ever thought he may have lost his "mojo", then by all that is musical he has found it again.
Keep your ears and eyes out for this album, and we "Music Whispers" and the Toorak Times won't be slow letting you know when it's ready.
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Got a "whisper" or a rumor? Send it to robgraves@tooraktimes.com.au
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