MP3 Kimberley Rew - Great Central Revisited

"...big, jangling guitars, engaging lyrics and harmonies from heaven..."
- MOJO Magazine

13 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Roots Rock, FOLK: Folk Pop



Details:
A very busy writer and guitarist, Kimberley Rew has only released three solo albums within the last 22 years.
He first came to notice in the late seventies as a member of Robyn Hitchcock's Soft Boys (a primary influence on REM).

GREAT CENTRAL REVISITED is his debut on Bongobeat, a label run by his friend Ralph Alfonso, who released the cult classic Soft Boys lp, Underwater Moonlight on Attic Records back in 1980, its only North
American release at the time (with bonus tracks & revised cover art-very collectible!).

In 1981, Rew made a solo single backed by American band the dBs before forming Katrina and the Waves, writing most of the group's songs including the worldwide top ten hit "Walking on Sunshine" (produced by Hitchcock's Pat Collier and REM's Scott Litt). The Bangles also covered Rew's "Going Down to Liverpool". At Rew's suggestion, the Waves sent their indie debut to Attic, and Ralph once again released
two Canada-only Waves lps before the group was signed by EMI worldwide and "Sunshine" rocketed around the charts worldwide.

Katrina and the Waves toured; opening for the Kinks, the Beach Boys, and Squeeze among many others. Rew concurrently recorded and made guest appearances with Ashley Hutchings, Robyn Hitchcock, Julian Dawson and Boo Hewerdine.

In 1997 Katrina and the Waves won the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK with the Rew composition "Love Shine a Light", a Europe-wide top ten hit.

In 1999 Rew appeared on Julian Dawson's album Under the Sun and Robyn Hitchcock's "Jewels for Sophia" and its associated tours. 2000 saw Rew's second solo album, "Tunnel into Summer". Mainly
produced by Andy Metcalfe (from the Soft Boys, Robyn Hitchcock's Egyptians and Squeeze), it features contributions from Julian Dawson, Robyn Hitchcock, Dave Mattacks and Glenn Tillbrook.

In 2001 the Soft Boys reconvened to re-release their "Underwater Moonlight " album, now hailed as a gem from the vaults, and tour the US and UK. It was during that tour that Kimberley and Ralph (both had maintained their friendship over the years) began discussions for Rew to join the BongoBeat roster and re-unite with Ralph in a working relationship.

The result is Rew's most personal endeavour to date; a love letter to life and wonder and all things British and beautiful. Rew's trademark cascading wall of guitars enrich an album that pours out of the grand
tradition of Ray Davies, Robyn Hitchcock, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe -a wry and caring eye on life's small wonders, rock's fallen angels (Eddie Cochran, Screaming Lord Sutch), trains, and even a song about
poet Philip Larkin.

It's an understated joy. A welcome tonic from the noise and blare. It's the perfect summer soundtrack for a drive in the countryside, up and down the backroads and stopping at unexpected cafes for home-made
food and conversation, maybe sunset on the beach, everything quiet and good.