LINK: Wally Review

http://www.69facesofrock.com/wally_montpllier_cd.html

Wally - Montpellier (Gonzo Multimedia) ****1/2

Wally was a great British rock band from the 1970s. They've released two excellent albums, self-titled "Wally" in 1974, and "Valley Gardens" in 1975. Then the band split up, and the Atlantic Records gave up on the band. Wally remains one of those great bands whose potential never really fulfilled, but their music continues to electrify.

Thirty years later, Wally returns. "Montpellier" is a combination of reworked demos from what would've been Wally's third album, and newer tracks the band worked on. The album is also a tribute to guitarist, Pete Cosker, and keyboard player, Paul Gerrett, who are no longer with us.

Upon the first listen to "Montpellier," one feels the absolute deepness and passion so evident on the previous albums. The album is a natural continuation of what Wally began many decades ago. Even the augmented line up, does a great job, and makes the two departed musician proud of their legacy. The songs dwell between rock and progressive. Wally always had a great way of combining both styles, and making it their own. Plenty of great songs here, and this really feel like a record. And that's exactly what Wally was in the 70s. They were a record band, and that's a sign of the great musicianship. Hits never killed anyone (or did they?) but Wally just serves a whole package of great music, and that's what they do best.

"Montpellier" is a great record, aimed at pure music fans who don't like to see their bands compromise. This writer's hat is off to Wally for being able to pull it off 30 years down the line. This has a heart and soul, and it runs fast!

Mark Kadzielawa

LINK: Wally Review

http://shakefire.com/reviews/cd/wally

Submitted by Lee Roberts on Monday, March 26, 2012 - 8:31PM

Artist: Wally

Album: Montpellier

Members: Roy Webber, Paul Middleton, Pete Sage, Roger Narraway, Will Jackson, Nick Glennie-Smith, Frank Mizen

Genre: Other, Pop, Rock

Label: AIS

Tracks: 8

Release Date: November 8, 2011

Discs: 1

Rating: 2.38 (out of 4.00)

GRADE: C+

“Montpellier” opens up with ‘Sailor’, a song that is such a mixture of sounds that at first listen I didn’t quite like what I was hearing. But that was because there was so much coming at me that I couldn’t quite put my finger on whether or not to like the song. Right from the beginning the song starts off with this low, mellow sound with birds, maybe a seagulls sounding out, it was almost like a nature song that I was listening to. Though the opening to the song is short, only little over a minute long, then the vocals start in. Those first few moments of the vocals by Roy Webber had too much of a nasal sound to them. It was a such a boring opening vocals to a song that started off with such a catching set of sounds. However, the song does get better, the nasal sound remains, it just sounds better than the opening portion of the song.

I liked every song on this album except for one, ‘Sister Moon’. It was the lyrics of the song coupled with the whine of the vocals that got on my nerves. By repeating the lyric “sister” so many times along with the drawn out cords for some of the lyrics I couldn’t enjoy the song. I don’t know if this song was supposed to be mellow or not but it ended up being too slow for me to get interested in listening to. Though, this was the only song that I didn’t like, the rest of the album is really good. I was actually amazed by the song ‘Surfing’ and have listened to it the most. This one song gives the whole album it’s true feel, one of grandeur, like it’s a set of songs that would be played during a very dramatic play.

Wally has put out a CD that does what I like the most, it changes up the sound of the songs with each song. Taking songs that start with someone talking, then going into a song that’s mellow with a slow beat into a rock song before going back to being a mellow song. The beats in these songs are fun, they made me do a little dancing bob in my chair, I was tapping my foot, and a few times tapping out the beat on the desk. Listening to this album was almost like being put into a story where it was the soundtrack for myself as I went along for the ride.

Wally - To The Urban Man – New Double Live Album of 2010 Concert. Coming Soon

Wally - To The Urban Man – New Double Live Album of 2010 Concert



1970’s progrock legends WALLY, protégés of Rick Wakeman and Bob Harris, previously signed to Atlantic records, reformed after a gap of 36 years in 2009 and are releasing their 4rd album titled ‘To The Urban Man’ a live double album of their 2010 concert recorded before a capacity audience of a thousand loyal fans in their home town at Harrogate Royal Hall.



WALLY had two successful albums on Atlantic records titled ‘Wally (1974)’ and ‘Valley Gardens (1975)’ both produced by Bob Harris and Rick Wakeman and with a string of singles including ‘The Martyr’, ‘I Just Wanna Be A Cowboy’ and the amazing ‘Nez Perce’ with guest Madeline Bell on backing vocals, which was a Johnnie Walker record of the week on Radio One, along with appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test. They released a stunning and highly successful new studio album Montpellier in 2009, produced by Will Jackson (Kaiser Chiefs, Pigeon Detectives).



The Montpellier album was recorded in Leeds at the Soundworks Studio, home studio of Leeds bands The Pigeon Detectives and the Kaiser Chiefs, and introduces new tracks written by Wally, who are Paul Middleton (Pedal Steel and Bass), Pete Sage (Violin), Roger Narraway (Drums), NickGlennie-Smith (Keyboards), Roy Webber (Lead Vocals) and new members Will Jackson (Guitar) and Frank Mizen (Pedal Steel and Bass).



The band reformed in the spring of 2009 for a one off concert, tragically the original guitarist Pete Cosker died in 1991 from illnesses linked to a combination of drink and drugs and just as the band were preparing to come together the original keyboard player Paul Gerrett died in his sleep on a beach in Thailand where he owned a popular bar. His popularity as a person had not waned over the years and he was given a traditional Buddhist funeral by his close friends and family.



With the remaining five members comes a new member Frank Mizen who plays a multitude of instruments including pedal steel, banjo and bass along with another new member Will Jackson on lead guitar.



Over the years the band members have been involved in many projects the most notable being keyboard player Nick Glennie-Smith who has seen great success as a film score writer in Hollywood writing the scores for films such as Man in the Iron Mask and The Rock and is currently writing the score for a new Disney movie for release in 2011.



WALLY are holding the 2011 concerts at Harrogate Theatre, hosted by Radio 2 DJ, and host of the Old Grey Whistle Test, Bob Harris, who was also co producer of their original albums titled, WALLY and Valley Gardens, along with co -producer Rick Wakeman.



The double live album To The Urban Man captures Wally at their best, live on stage and performing their classics Nez Perce, The Martyr and Your Own Way along with the epic title track To The Urban Man.



It is hoped the album will be released in October in the meantime you can find more information about Wally at the bands website here :



http://www.wallymusic.co.uk/

Gonzo Secures Wally Albums For Distribution: New DVD, Live Album and New Studio Album On The Way

Gonzo have secured distribution rights to new reeases from 70's band Wally. Wally were signed to Atlantic in the 70's and the first self titled album was produced by Bob Harris and Rick Wakeman. A second album Valley Gardens was produced solely by Bob Harris.
The band performed many many high profile concerts including a guest slot on the 1974Rick Wakeman Garden Party Concert at Crystal palace.The band also appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test.

Whilst the band split in the mid seventies they did reform in 2009 and were filmed at a concert in Harrogate which was played as a tribute to former members Pete Cosker and Paul Gerrett who had passed away. The concert was introduced by Bob Harris. The following year the band reformed again and the result was a double Live album entitled To The Urban Man

Since then there has also been a studio album entitled Montpelier which contains some songs that would have gone on to make the proposed third album in the 70's

The deal with Gonzo covers the Live DVD entitled That Was then
The double Live CD To The Urban Man
and
The Studio album Montpelier

Roy Webber and Will Jackson also have a side project away from Wally, Jackson<>Webber and have recorded an album entitled What It Is

This also will be distributed via Gonzo

Roy Webber founder member of Wally is seen here with Gonzo MD Rob Ayling

You can find out more about Wally and see photos of the band and a full biography of all the members at the Wall website here:
http://www.wallymusic.co.uk/