Ramshackle Pier has been a difficult review because on the surface you have a very simplistic style of folk-instrumental, but below the surface is tension and flow that calls you back to listen again and again. Andy Bole is an acoustic guitar virtuoso. Songs like "Carogeen", "Snow Past" and "That Way" are amazing and evocative folk-instrumentals. But Bole isn't afraid to experiment a little. "Spring Snow 1" is a haunting experience of string bends and odd-note structures.
Ramshackle Pier contains 14 songs covering 43:37. Catherine Jauniax is credited with vocals on the title track, but there is no singing as such. This is a total instrumental CD. Bole released this CD originally in 1984; he later became a member of The Late Night Band and became a famous member of UK's underground scene. But it was his sense of song and voice that made his acoustic guitar such a powerful weapon. Bill Gilonis adds some percussion, bass and clarinet on several tracks, but most of the songs are just layers of acoustic guitars.
Late 60s performers, like Nick Drake, come to mind when listening to Bole. Ramshackle Pier will appeal to any fans of Fairport Convention as well as 60s Art-Rock. There is a serious psychedelic groove on this CD.
1. Carogeen (4:39)
2. Spring Snow (1 2:25)
3. Finikous (1:09)
4. Snows Past (2:39)
5. Pier Head (3:46)
6. Ambush (1:50)
7. Spring Snow 2 (1:10)
8. Blackwater/Silver Sea (4:06)
9. Ramshackle Pier (7:47)
10. That Way (2:43)
11. Snows Past 2 (1:39)
12. Resophonics 1 (2:56)
13. Resophonics 2 (3:20)
14. Pheromones & Incense (3:22)
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