Those familiar with the work of Josh Pyke will know the foreboding that lurks beneath his tasteful acoustic folk. Strip away the shimmering arpeggios and minor chords and often what’s left is an environment prowling with wolves, crows and searching headlights.
Examples are numerous. In the opening track from second album Chimney’s Afire, he uses the metaphor of a combusting chimney to describe the blood that spurts from the blowhole of a harpooned whale.
Another, “Fed And Watered”, is a case study in gambling addiction, concealed by a driving acoustic rhythm and Pyke’s flailing chorus harmonies. Even “Middle Of The Hill” is a near-horror story wrapped up in wistful suburban nostalgia.
For his fourth album – aptly titled The Beginning And End Of Everything – Pyke is leaving the refuge of his cabin and trekking further into the night.
As the title suggests, the LP covers ground such as death and the choices that affect life’s outcomes. Such themes seem to contrast strongly with Pyke’s personality. He’s an affable fellow; warm and friendly – like the old next-door neighbour who used to mow the lawn while you were on holidays.
Similar to previous albums, Pyke had no particular narrative in mind prior to penning The Beginning And End Of Everything – especially not that of dissecting his own mortality.
“My harshest critic is myself. For me the most important thing is not putting pressure on myself…which is definitely what creative people have a tendency to do.”“I don’t ever really think of themes when I’m writing – I just let whatever happens happen,” the musician explains. “When you’ve got a body of work you can start to see there are recurring themes running through it. I let the writing process take care of that and not think about it too much.
“My harshest critic is myself. For me the most important thing is not putting pressure on myself. That seems to keep me out of trouble from second guessing myself and self-sabotaging myself, which is definitely what creative people have a tendency to do.”
This filter-free approach swims through first single “Leeward Side” (referring to the side of an object sheltered from wind). From the outset, it’s arguably his finest ‘pop’ single since “Lines On Palms”; a joyful harmonica dances along to a syncopated rhythm and Pyke’s trademark layered vocals.
But a scratch there and a peel back here reveals a more suggestive underbelly.
Pyke begins the tune by confirming his commitment to another – “and I have bound myself to your bearings / my love is a nesting bird, lodged in the breast of her.” Later in the track he begins to reveal his own insecurities and ponders the longevity and strength of this bond.
In the closing stanza, Pyke counters these doubts with his leeward side metaphor, reaffirming his commitment while using mortality as a backdrop:
“One day you will unfold and fall into the untold / One day you long to be dancing away from me /But under the hollow skies past where the sails divide / Until the day I die, I’ll be your leeward side.”
In typical Pyke fashion, he uses animal, ocean and woodland descriptions to outstanding effect throughout the album.
When explaining the type of imagery he employs, the acclaimed Sydney singer-songwriter recoils into the workings of his psyche. “I feel like it’s relating to different parts of my brain and personality,” he begins…
“The rabbits and foxes are the good guys and the wolves and crows are the bad guys. Crows and wolves are the dark ones peering over your shoulder and watching what you’re doing and mocking you. Rabbits and the foxes are the ones helping you out.
“I’d have to read into my own lyrics and kinda see what I’m talking about,” he clarifies with a chuckle.
“I like to find a balance between [improving] and not becoming too technically good, because the whole thing when I started songwriting was to follow my instincts.”Perhaps subconsciously offsetting his rich and visceral lyricism, Pyke – by his own admission – is actually a novice fingerpicker (which goes to show there’s hope for those of us still trying to crack the intro to “Stairway To Heaven”).
“To be honest my fingerpicking is actually really bad technically,” he says humbly. “Playing with my live band, all the guys are far, far better musicians than me.
“I never had lessons or anything. I taught myself how to fingerpick and I do it the wrong way. I anchor my top two fingers so I only pick with my thumb and my index finger and little finger, which is really the wrong way to do it.
“I’ve been trying to develop that and am trying to do it the proper way. For instance, “All The Very Best Of Us” [the sixth track taken from his latest album] is the first song I’ve ever fingerpicked correctly.”
Despite his restricted technique, he does admit hesitancy in developing his skills beyond that of a competent muso. “I’m always trying to get better and (for example) trying to teach myself to play piano more properly,” he says. “I’ve been playing a lot of bass which I’ve enjoyed a lot so I definitely try and develop things.
“At the same time, I like to find a balance between that and not becoming too technically good, because the whole thing when I started songwriting was to follow my instincts.”
His intuition has served him well. For the better part of a decade Pyke has been touring and recording constantly – a rare artist who places as much stock in his lyrical output as any other aspect of his musicianship.
The Beginning And End Of Everything – arguably his most personal collection to date – looks set to keep the wolves from the door and cement his reputation further.
Josh Pyke 2013 Australian Tour
FRI 16 AUG | THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 17 AUG | THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC – SOLD OUT
Tickets available from www.cornerhotel.com | 1300 724 867 | From Corner Hotel Box Office direct
SUN 18 AUG | THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC – (2nd Show)
Tickets available from www.cornerhotel.com | 1300 724 867 | From Corner Hotel Box Office direct
THU 22 AUG | THE SMALL BALLROOM, NEWCASTLE NSW
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 23 AUG | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
SAT 24 AUG | UNIBAR, WOLLONGONG NSW
Tickets available from www.bigtix.com.au
THU 29 AUG | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, CALOUNDRA QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 30 AUG | THE SOUNDLOUNGE, GOLD COAST QLD
Tickets available from www.soundlounge.com.au & www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 31 AUG | THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE QLD
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
THU 05 SEP | PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY WA
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 06 SEP | FLY BY NIGHT, FREMANTLE WA
Tickets available from www.flybynight.org | 08 9430 5976 | From Fly By Night Box Office direct
SAT 07 SEP | THE ASTOR, PERTH WA
Tickets available from www.showticketing.com.au | 08 9370 5888 | From Astor Theatre Box Office direct
