Mark Pengilly – A Strayer From Australia

Mark Pengilly – A STRAYER FROM AUSTRALIA (Released 1982…remastered 2009)

SONGS CONNECTED TO THE THEMES OF LEAVING AND RETURNING HOME. “JUST THE RIGHT BALANCE OF JAZZ TINGED DYNAMICS WITH THE MELLOWNESS OF FOLK”

Track Listing

1. I’d Grown Accustomed To Your Pace

2. Pair O’ Wings Paranoia

3. Coco Koala

4. Momma Said

5. Song 21…TO Anyone

6. 224 4000

7. Even Arrows Quiver Before The Bow

8. Calypso Daze

9. Here And There

10. A Strayer From Australia

11. Gypsy In My Soul

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Review by SAMANTHA TRENOWETH (RAM MAGAZINE)

“A strayer from Australia” may not be too easy to track down but, if you’re interested in home-grown folk/jazz/blues (and even if you’re not, as long as you’ve got a fairly open ear), it’s worth a bit of a search. For the most part, it’s pretty unique.

It’s peaceful, honest, warm and Pengilly’s voice is sweet, strong and incredibly manouverable. Mostly, the instruments are acoustic but the few electric additions have benn softened to fit the mood.

It’s a very natural album with just the right balance of jazz inspired dynamics and the mellowness of folk. The result is an unmistakable spirit of freedom that imbues every track from start to finish.

There’s an eager innocence and simplicity in his use of words that compliments the childlike excitement of the music. This man is a fine vocalist, songwriter and producer and he’s chosen some good musicians to back him.

In all, an unusually satisfying debut album.
Mark Pengilly – A Strayer from Australia CD review by John Williams
Mark Pengilly divides his time between his music and standup comedy. This CD, his fi rst, was fi rst mixed in 1981 and was re-mastered this year to be re-released recently. The songs cover a variety of areas from Mark’s early days. The CD contains eleven tracks, ten of which were written by Mark. The cover notes do not include any information about musicians who played on the CD which is a pity as the sound created is good. I would like to have known more about them. Mark has a pleasant voice without being outstanding vocally. This CD was fi rst recorded twenty eight years ago and he has put out other CDs since. Certainly it makes for an easy listening experience.