Gabriel Walsh has been playing on the fringes of the music world for a couple decades. He has contributed to Wooden Wand and Vanishing Voice, as well as Timesbold and the Solillians. If those acts mean anything to you, then you might have an idea of Walsh's starting point for the Earthly Frames.

The Earthly Frames Light Reading (self-released)

If not, well, imagine Robyn Hitchcock filtered through the most processed and arty Flaming Lips song you can imagine. And then take a running leap.

The official press sheet for this describes the music as "sonic and narrative fuckery". Which is to say that Walsh's previous releases as the Earthly Frames have been more performance art than music. In fact, music was somewhat ancillary to those projects.

This is actually an album. That is, Light Reading is a collection of loosely-related songs that are being released as part of a single package. I am stating the obvious, but in Walsh's world, even basic truths are ripe for challenge. So I find it best to be utterly clear.

There is no normal to be found here. Walsh plays with ideas of tone, key and structure, so that even seemingly straightforward rockers sound alien. This set is challenging in every way, and boy is it a blast to try and unpack. Lovely and impressive.

Jon Worley