MURPHNICK - Strange Ride LP

After the intimate, singer-songwriter album 'What's In Your Mind?' (reminiscent of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith) Nick’s role in these different amazing bands inspired him to get back to recording something that sounded like a rock band. Drifting back to listening to much more Americana music, Nick was writing songs heavily influenced by country rock, folk and soul. A second big batch of songs came from Nick’s love of more European sounds, as well as daydreamy cinematic soundscapes. After culling and selecting the best, the final collection of material was an eclectic group of tunes with a prevailing sound of psychedelia and the early ‘70s.

Nick’s lyrics tell stories of sad and desperate love, feelings of loss and abandonment on suburban trains and in bedrooms, espionage tales of disappearing friends who turned out to be someone completely unexpected, the tragic experience of loss of identity when someone colonises your name, as well as yearning for childhood dreams.

Nick’s tragic obsession with this early ‘70s era can be heard loud and clear throughout the album - iconic references are apparent as he channels Byrds, Rolling Stones, Neil Young etc.

Contributions from Melbourne’s finest musos add textures and colour. These include cello by Clara Schutz, violin by Ewan Baker, piano by Stevie Hesketh, Chris Altmann and Marcel Borrack, bowed double bass by Ross McLennan, trumpet by Yianni Rowlands, alto sax by Gideon Brazil, and harmonies/backing vocals from Violet Kelly, Jeff Samin, Mandy Kerr, Ben Mason and Tim Harvey.

“Nick is a talented man. He has recorded an album of stunning harmonic depth, divine orchestration and a gentle humanity.”- Toby Martin, Youth Group

“he has the melodic and instrumental gifts to match his transistor radio dreams and a voice that is pure enough to sing multiple rings around them” - The Age