Artist Profile

Josh Pyke

View photos of Josh Pyke live at The Hi-Fi
http://www.thehifi.com.au/gallery/28/

‘CHIMNEY’S AFIRE’ is the cry whalers of yesteryear made when they harpooned a whale and a plume of blood and water spurted out of its blowhole into the air. “It’s a horrifying, brutal image, but the actual language is evocative and quite amazing,” says JOSH PYKE of the title of his new album, the follow-up to his ARIA Award winning debut ‘MEMORIES & DUST’.
Chimney’s Afire more than a simple ode to seafaring though. Pyke traverses an ocean of memories, ideas and thoughts about everyday concerns, with stability and the notion of making up your own mind emerging as overriding themes. He explores the concept of a home, what it means and why it’s important; fate, and whether there is a plan for us all; getting older and what it means to settle down; responsibility; being careless or careful with people and the legacy one leaves when they go.
While these concepts aren’t exactly unchartered musical territory, it’s Pyke’s unique way with words, sense of melody and quirky song structures though that set him apart from other singer/songwriters. His critically acclaimed debut ‘MEMORIES & DUST’ collected three ARIA Awards, hit the charts at #4 and went on to sell 50,000+ copies. The album was released in the UK on Island Records, and Josh toured there extensively. A slot on the Glastonbury Festival bill preceded a run of sold-out theatre shows back home, followed by Homebake and the massive Big Day Out tour.
“Pyke has created a classic album you’ll still be listening to in 20 years” Album of the week DAILY TELEGRAPH
“’MEMORIES & DUST’ deserves to be cherished, talked over, analysed, celebrated and raved over to your mates in the way classic albums once were” THE COURIER MAIL
“World-class standard” THE AGE
“’MEMORIES & DUST’ serves as further evidence that Pyke is arguably the best Australian singer/songwriter going around” Album of the week BEAT