MP3 Peter Adriel - Illini Wind

Driving guitar rhythms, agile harmonica melodies, and profusely inventive lyrics. Mountain music meets flatland rock with a groove.

9 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Power-folk, COUNTRY: Country Rock



Details:
After six months in Australia, where he traveled and worked as a street musician, Peter returned to the U.S. to do a little farming, collect his thoughts, and record a new album.

"I chose the nine songs for Illini Wind, and then recorded the album start to finish multiple times. What you hear is live, and was all recorded in one session. I played my old Fender acoustic guitar, a variety of harmonicas, and a stompbox, or foot drum, that I made from an old gasoline pump. The studio was set up in a pole barn at the family homestead in Eureka, Illinois, and recording was finished in November of 2005."

Illini Wind is the result. Driving guitar rhythms and wailing harmonica combine with Peter's expressive voice to bring these nine songs to life. Accentuated with bass-drum-like footstomps, the mood ranges from spare to full-spectrum and back again.

Peter's unique lyricism is at once simple and profound. Personal narratives blend seamlessly with imaginitive dreamings, bright earthly reveries, and tales of dark times. But while he explores both sides of the coin of darkness and light, his music is ultimately filled with hope and joy.

"Well I been walking these years,
and struggling beneath your shadow,
and with so much fear.

But I'm waking today
and I'm checking underneath my pillow
because I know my wings are there.

And I will roll up both my sleeves
and I will climb up to the eaves
oh yes I do believe.

And don't you stop those pretty words
cause that's the nicest thing I've heard
from such a tiny bird...

And I, well I'm only asking for a light,
I wanna be basking in some light..."

- from Asking For The Light, Illini Wind.

Drawing freely upon American folk, blues, and country musical traditions, Peter crafts songs that resonate with a time-worn familiarity, yet step forth with fresh vision and innovative wordplay. Rhythms and melodies hit home at first listen, while meanings grow and change with time. Illini Wind is a great first taste from this dynamic artist, and there is clearly more waiting in the wings.