We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Melancholia

by Ashley Reaks

supported by
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs)
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs) thumbnail
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs) This is the third Ashley Reaks album in my collection, and as far as I know one of the oldest ones published under his own name with "real music" on it (the other ones containing sort of comedy or poetry). Already in this early stage, nine years ago, the terrific idiosyncratic songwriting style of Ashley Reaks clearly shows, and the collaboration with the superb Norwegian vocalist Maria Jardardottir sounds once again like an ideal musical symbiosis. The download includes a nightmare fantasy video of "She Burns". Favorite track: Prayer For The Living Dead.
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
2.
3.
4.
She Burns 05:34
5.
6.
Melancholia 02:49
7.
8.
Puppy Fat 02:03
9.
10.

about

REVIEWS

PENNY BLACK
Ashley Reaks flaunts the kind of maddening genius usually reserved for Dutch impressionists who puncture their ears. Okay, so Reaks is from England, but he is still a mad Renaissance man. Besides singing, playing guitar and composing, he is a visual artist who paints vividly.Reaks experiments successfully with a myriad of genres layering reggae, African drumming, Indian vocalizations, electronica, jazz and spoken word, Jah Wobble bass and even scat-singing to his wizardly elixir.

SANDMAN
'Melancholia' sounds like PiL, The Sisters Of Mercy and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry all jamming together, with Reaks’ evocative vocals weaving in and out of the 
lush synth textures and tribal rhythms. Melancholia' retains a coherence, a consistency and a pop sensibility often lost when artists try to be ‘experimental’. Although Reaks’ music IS experimental in the sense that it blends seemingly disparate genres it does so seamlessly and skilfully. Ashley Reaks proves that clever and
carefully constructed music can still be visceral, direct and beautiful.

credits

released March 3, 2008

Ashley Reaks - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Maria Jardardottir - Vocals
Ian Peak - Saxophones

Recorded and Produced by Mark Woolnough and Ashley Reaks except 'Sucker For Punishment' by Dave McCracken
Artwork by Ashley Reaks

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ashley Reaks Harrogate, UK

Genre-hopping musician and collage artist.


"an incomparable talent and a true original, a man who often borders on genius" - Louder Than War (UK)

contact / help

Contact Ashley Reaks

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Ashley Reaks, you may also like: