Of the many New Zealand albums long overdue for a reissue, the sole album by the acoustic quartet Waves is among the most worthy.
The band of Michael Matthew, Kevin Wildman, Graeme Gash and David Marshall were straight out of the post-Crosby Stills and Nash school of close harmony singing, acoustic guitars and some pointed electric playing when the moment demanded it.
Their debut album -- produced by Peter Dawkins and engineered by Phil Yule -- was recorded in four days at Stebbing Studios in Auckland with a little help from the likes of Mike Chunn on bass (of Split Enz/Citizen Band fame), keyboard player Mike Harvey, Murray Grindlay of the Underdogs etc, here on harmonica), Mike Caen (of Streetalk) and others.
It appeared on the short-lived but worthy Direction Records out of Auckland.
Given the period -- Hello Sailor, Dragon etc -- the quiet and considered music of Waves seemed at odds with the prevailing wind, but perhaps that is why they are so fondly remembered by those who quite liked to sit and nod at home rather than tough it out in boozy bars.
Their musicianship was impeccable and songs like Gash's Wornout Rocker and Dolphin Song, and Wildman's Arrow, etched themselves into the memory of many.
Apparently they recorded a second album which was never released because Direction floundered, but Gash went on to release at least one solo album. I think.
My recollection is there was a one-off re-formation at some time in the Nineties (my flawed memory says a gig at the Mercury Theatre?) but that was it.
In the absence of a reissue, here then is a track lifted off scratchy old vinyl from one of the great lost New Zealand albums. And a clip of their memorable Dolphin Song.
Someone must have the masters . . . and the will for a reissue before the memory fades further and that Alzheimer thing claims the rest.
For more oddities, one-offs or songs with an interesting backstory use the RSS feed for daily updates, and check the massive back-catalogue at From the Vaults.
By
Comments
Jamie Macphail - Feb 16, 2012
This was an absolute favourite of mine! I had it on cassette and vinyl, both of which are long dead, so it is a treat to be able to hear these two tracks again!
I do still have the Graham Gash album After The carnival, which was just as good as this, too.
What gems lurk back there in the past!
Graham Clark - Mar 1, 2012
I remember this album very well - man what a classic and brilliant album - this is one of those albums I have searched to get hold of for years without any luck. It sure is overdue for re release. Thank you so much for posting this.
Mike Ashby - Mar 1, 2012
I saw these comments and went straight upstairs to dig out my copy. Fortunately we bought our 15 year old muso son a turntable for Christmas, so we were able to play our vinyl for the first time in 20 years. I had forgotten the album, but as soon as I saw the cover I could remember my favourite tracks - Arrow, Eloise, The Dolphin Song. my son was mystifed as to why we couldn't get it on iTunes or CD. But he was pretty stoked to have such a cool and rare album: he was quickly texting his guitarist to boast.
Lost treasures indeed - really classy musicians, and some great songs. Anywhere else in the world, theirs would have been a different story...
Simon Grigg - May 14, 2012
I understand the reason it's not been reissued is that Graeme doesn't want it out again. A shame...