Search - Apartments :: Evening Visits

Another Unacknowledged Masterpiece

03/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is without a doubt Peter Milton Walsh's finest hour in a career so far littered with overlooked marvels. When it was released by Rough Trade in England in the 80's, I was then friendly with most of the expatriate Australian rock fraternity: Nick Cave, Dave Graney of the Moodists,the late Dave McComb of the Triffids, Grant & Robert of the Go-Betweens. Without an exception, they considered this record to be an unparalleled masterpiece. The sadness is that this critical reception was never translated into sales, and that his success never reached the same levels as theirs. This is a beautifully spare and achingly sad song-sequence, full of shadows and dark places, but warmed with rich melodies (the gorgeous "Mr.Somewhere", a No.1 pop song in an alternate universe) and an array of chamber settings. Walsh's voice always seems to be on the verge of cracking with emotion, but remains restrained and soulful. This is an album to place alongside the Go-Betweens "Tallulah"; the Triffids mighty "Calenture", even John Cale's "Paris,1919"."

Tasteful, elegant, moody pop

Lypo Suck | Hades, United States | 07/03/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not just anyone can wear a suit. It takes a certain world-weariness, far too many late, bottle-cradling nights, some pre-mature crow's feet, slightly disheveled hair, a lanky build, etc. Australians, in particular, seem pre-disposed towards this suit-wearing thing (Robert Forster, Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Dave McComb, etc...) and few people would find reason to fault Peter M. Walsh's dapper attire.



Since the late 70s, debonair Australian cult-figure Walsh has earned his right to wear a suit by embodying these traits while building an impressive musical resume. He was briefly a Go-Between around 79-80, playing guitar on their rare pop gem "Sound of Rain." Walsh then did some time in Ed Kuepper's Laughing Clowns in the early 80s before going on to release several stylish, diverse pop albums of his own under the Apartments moniker. Walsh's first effort, "Evening Visits," sits comfortably next to his suit-wearing contemporaries' (Go-Betweens, Jazz Butcher, Triffids, etc.) mid-80s efforts. It's an album of 9 tasteful, diverse, melodic, guitar-based pop gems.



Highlights include "Great Fool," with its seductive, jazz-to-folk and back chord changes, "Sunset Hotel," with moody, unpredictably writhing chord progressions and world-weary piano (played by a lanky guy in a suit, no doubt); the dramatic "All the Birthdays" with its baroque string & horn arrangements, reminiscent of John Cale or Nick Drake; and the edgy, country-blues-pop swing of "The Black Road Shines." You've also got hip, suit-wearing popsters like Ben Watt (from EBTG) making cameo appearances. The lyrics tend toward adult ruminations on loss and loneliness.



Unfortunately, "Evening Visits" is not without its flaws. Most notably, the paper-thin sound cries out for some mid-range. Also, Walsh has a tendency to waver in and out of pitch sometimes when singing, which can distract from the subtle beauty he's worked up with the music. And his voice is set high in the mix, which only exacerbates the problem. Had Walsh worked on his singing and if someone with more sympathetic ears sat in the producer's chair, "Evening Visits" could've have attained that special cult-classic status that the Go-Betweens have been enjoying in recent years."

The best was yet to come

Richard R. Frazier | Somewhere over everywhere | 12/01/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I acquired the 3 non-EP offerings in reverse order from the way they were recorded. This was sort of like eating dessert first! " Evening Visits" has several strong songs but doesn't go front door to back door, strong from pillar to post like the other two. But, I had to get it as the other offerings had me believing in the imposible. 3 great songs but the others are sort of like struggling to find themselves in sound and in lyric. I say start with "Drift" or "Farewells""