Josh Pyke

Josh Pyke is a genius songwriter. This Sydney-based musician writes lyrics that demand double-takes and rewinds, lines that will keep swimming through your head for days. Team them with gorgeous, sparkling, warm and caressing melodies and a voice that nails every note, word and emotion, and you have an artist who will capture your heart. The mini-album opens with the wistful plea of Beg Your Pardon, with its deliciously quiet harmonica outro, before bursting into the jaunty, gentle rocker Private Education, both standout tracks. - Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 10th November 2005

Having previously charmed Australia's ears and radios under the slightly confusing Night Hour moniker, Josh Pyke steps out with an assured, quality debut record under his own name. His first release since being picked up by Ivy League, all seven tracks of this mini-album are loaded with literate, emotive lyrics and limber tunesmithery. Think Elliott Smith, were he happier and from Sydney. Lead single "Middle of the Hill" has been inescapable on Triple J, but its easy sentimentality and whimsical memories of a summery suburban childhood stand up well to repeated listens. Elsewhere there are darker tones, swelling strings paint a ravaged landscape on Goldmines, and Fill You In is a marathon wordfest on 'finding yourself'. Staring at the Sun was the clincher for me, effortlessly dancing the fine line between unrequited love and stalker vigilance with lyrics like: "I drove past your street tonight on my way back from a show/ I was less than one hundred footsteps away from you I suppose/ and I could feel your sweet eyes watching headlights sweep by/maybe you noticed one swept by a little too slow..." He's got that same pale angsty look but Josh Pyke has managed to combine top notch lyrucs and simple, harmony drenched arrangements with a charismatic voice that sets him far above the chattering crowd of so-so indie singer songwriters. - Rave Magazine, November 22, 2005

Think Jangly pop, plus a cute dude playing guitar. His lyrics are more insightful than anything some of the more-famous male singer/songwriters could cough up too. The perfect laid back arvo: sun, a beer and this CD. - Cleo Magazine, December 2005

Up and comer Josh Pyke has fast been establishing a name for himself on the local scene - his live shows almost guarantee a packed house and you'd be hard pressed to find one person not singing along! This week, Josh offers commercial radio the track that has had the music industry talking, Middle of the Hill, from his mini-album, Feeding the Wolves.

Middle of the Hill is a lyrically rich, organic track based around a simple, yet sweet acoustic riff. With more shows planned for the coming months, Middle of the Hill will deliver a fresh sound to AC and CHR listeners who have warmed to the sound of the likes of Ben Lee over the past year. - The Music Network, 23rd January 2006

More a mini album than an EP, this is a perfect introduction to Josh Pyke's beautiful brand of folk rock. Whimsical lyrics are lovingly showcased by Pyke's sweetly sensitive vocals and multi-layered arrangements. Inviting comparison to master storyteller Elliott Smith, the Sydney-based solo artist's bittersweet tales of love, loss and more should even win fans among those usually averse to singer/songwriters.

**** - New Weekly Magazine, December 12th 2005

By the time Triple J darling Josh Pyke took the stage, Ric's was packed. The reception for a gentel rendition of 'Middle of the Hill', the first single from Josh's new EP 'Feeding the Wolves', suggested many of the crowd had come on the strength of that song and the uber-high rotation it's received on our national youth broadcaster. But it's worth bearing in mind the EP was only released a couple of days earlier, many of the rapt upturned faces were Josh Pyke fans of old, from his days performing as Night Hour. Josh didn't disappoint them, pulling out lovely Night Hour songs later in the set like 'Kids Don't Sell Their Hopes So Fast' and a sparkling version of 'The Doldrums'. But it's the EP Josh was here to flog and we were treated to it in its entirety from 'Fill You In' to jaunty love song 'Private Education'. Stripped back of the harmonies that adorn the record, Josh's lyrics stole the show, allowed to shine by his effortlessly warm vocals and light acoustic guitar work. 'Goldmines' was as powerful as ever, fading almost to silence before its dark climax. 'Staring Down the Sun' was a bittersweet portrait of unrequited love and the silent vigil it brings, and Pyke closed with EP opener 'Beg Your Pardon'. The intimacy of Ric's was perfect for catching every nuance of Josh Pyke's honeyed vocals and delicate lyrics, and I'm glad I was there - with songs and delivery this goog, he won't be playing venues this size for much longer. - Rave Magazine, 22nd November 2005

At the risk of sounding all Jon Landau, I've seen the pop rock/folk rock future and it's not too bad at all.

Sure, we may be assailed by streams of nonentities riding on the back of a soap opera, television karaoke or a fine set of cheekbones. (Twas ever thus of course.) And it is true that some of our best songwriters and performers are into the second or even third decades of their careers, being moved into niche status as the youth-obsessed media move on.

But I reckon there is some real class on the way for the next decade or two. And it's exciting to witness.

In recent months there have been impressive albums from Sydney folk singer Kate Fagan, taxi driver-come-storyteller Perry Keyes, 22-year-old Melbournite Brendan Welch and ex-rock star on the make Josh Pyke. Coming up next month is the second album from another ex-rock star on the make, Jebediah's Kevin Mitchell, who these days trades under the name Bob Evans.

In solo and duo sets, with occasional visits from a violinist and guitarist, Pyke and Evans joke around, drink red wine instead of beer (it stops you burping, says Pike; it also makes you feel a bit Tim Freedman, says Evans) and play the kind of songs where melodies glide like birds riding a warm air current.

If you are looking for differentiation, you could say Evans, who occasionally more than hints at pre-sleaze Rod Stewart, trips between '60s coffee house (the Bleecker Street crowd of Tim Hardin, Fred Neil and others) and '70s West Coast singer songwriters (Jackson Browne for one) while Pyke, feels a bit more post-'80s acoustic pop/rock (several roads lead back to Neil Finn and, on stage more than on record, he is - gulp - not a million miles from Alex Lloyd).

What unites and makes both of them worth the attention is the sheer consistency of their songwriting. Pyke's Middle of the Hill, The Doldrums and Feeding the Wolves and Evans' Don't You Think It's Time, Nowhere Without You and Sadness & Whisky sound like the kind of songs you're going to be listening to into your dotage. And there's more like them in these kit bags.


- Sydney Morning Herald.

The @ Newtown auditorium has that great RSL at-home feeling, a vibe perfectly suited to the solo and duet performances of singer-songwriters Josh Pyke & Bob Evans (aka Jebediah frontman Kevin Mitchell) last week. With the occasional and welcome accompaniment of a keyboard player and violinist, the pair engaged the crowd with perfect guitar pop tunes and casual asides and jokes which made you feel like you were hanging out with a couple of mates. Except these mates are going to be hugely successful if there is any justice in an idol obsessed world. One of the best gigs McCabe has been privileged to enjoy.

- Daily Telegraph