“Worth searching out coz this lo-fi singer/songwriter oddball has a unique take on the genre… [he’s] happy to get raucous & obnoxious in just the right kinda way.” – Chris Knox
Dave Edwards, recording ‘Scratched Surface’ circa 1997
“Dave Edwards music is an unconstrained, free flowing piece of art. An artist unafraid to express his messages in an unconventional manner. This leads to an authentic, unique experience.” – Elizabeth Wheeler
“I am too conscious of my own inferiority to flatter myself with public plaudits; for works of deathless worth in comparison with my unpresuming volume have been buffeted amidst the rocks of criticism until they fell asleep in the arms of oblivion to be heard of no more.” – John Collie (1834-1893)
“Something about this global pandemic is inspiring people to create and/or curate art on a massive scale…. and this compilation, being offered for free/name-yr-price, is indeed M A S S I V E.” – Howard Seltzer
In recent years I’ve been living in smalltown New Zealand, and playing solo acoustic.
“Great skills and a refreshing rebirth of a beatnik sensibility, this is folk the way folk should be” – Andi Verse
Whereas 20 years prior, here’s a a lo-fi solo postpunk ‘official bootleg’ recorded (or half my lifetime) ago – opening for Chris Knox at Bar Bodega in Wellington NZ last millennium:
“Rough outsider folk-blues mysteries, dissonant rock textures, electric and acoustic improvisations… Edwards strikes me as one of the most overlooked musicians from the fertile lands of New Zealand and if you need a fresh start this might very well be the place.” – The Broken Face
Previously unreleased – verbose spoken word (salad) + improvised guitar. A journey down a road not taken for NZ music, by Dave Edwards with Simon O’Rorke, Youjae Lee, and Simon Sweetman (2004)
“Here Wellington, NZ composer DaveEdwards mostly goes it solo with some able assistance from duo or trio the Winter.Guitars, violin, cello, and percussion all stack up… He’s got a persona that’s all his own.”– George Parsons, Dream Magazine #5
“Four tracks over 45 minutes allow the artist suitable space for his forum of spoken word and instrumental colour, with the latter lurching from acoustic strums to occasional cacophony. On the final track, ‘Revenge of the Smur‘ Edwards uses a primarily percussive accompaniment whose impact is as dramatic as his wordplay” – Real Groove
Edwards’ music is often a sculpture rather than a melodic composition. Within this chosen form, amongst all the writings rantings & poetry there’s much difficult pleasure to be had for the musically adventurous.” – Brent Cardy, Real Groove, July 2002
“If only I could play guitar like that… bastard” – Chris Knox
Before moving back to Wellington my birthplace (I’m a sixth-generation pakeha New Zealander), I grew up in New Plymouth, – near the sleeping volcano Mt Taranaki, rolling green hills, and black sand beaches with surf pounding on the shore of the Tasman. .
Mt Taranaki, NZ
Dave Edwards at Patuha Acoustic Music Festival, Taranaki, 1998
“It’s lo-fi, organic and about as eclectic as one could manage. Kind of reminds me of Nick Cave if he had grown up in Timaru. No pretentious American accents or catch phrase choruses, just a bunch of people making music. A little beauty!” – NZ Musician, August/September 2002
“Worth searching out coz this lo-fi singer/songwriter oddball has a unique take on the genre. He’s pissed off, a tad fucked up (as usual), but not full of lugubrious self-pity (as unusual) and is happy to get raucous & obnoxious in just the right kinda way.” – Chris Knox
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For my non-linear alter-ego and a stylistic departure since 2005 see Dave Black.
