SHIFTING SANDS

‘ALBUM OF THE WEEK' IN THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ****

"The music's flamenco core never wavers. Damian Wright's glorious guitar playing is the spine, if you will, while his compositions allow other instruments to sing their own songs, like willowy limbs able to dance independently because of the spine's solidity. Wright's compositions could have been presented as solo flamenco guitar pieces, but instead he chose to open them up to the interpretation of a band. A key collaborator is Ben Hauptmann, whose 12-string guitar ripples through Wright's playing or rings out like a bell, as only a 12-string can do. It could easily become overly busy, but Hauptmann is too astute for that, and the instrument seems a natural fit with the music. Also thickening the weave is the electric bass of Steve Hunter, who brilliantly maintains the music's suppleness, rather than planting big, intermittent columns of sound, while Matt McMahon's piano solos add a layer of a softer, more impressionistic lyricism. Oud (Amir John Haddad), tabla (Bobby Singh) and percussion (James Hauptmann and Andrej Vujicic) complete the shifting track-by-track palette. It makes a fine addition to Wright's impressive catalogue." JOHN SHAND - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 2020

"Shifting Sands was a result of a period of music creation and recording around 2014 that was arranged for an exceptional band of musicians and close friends I had performed with for many years. The idea was to create a sound that was an expression of my love of flamenco music in the context of a 'band', whilst no doubt reflecting the multitude of influences and musical interests so common in musicians of today, from Jazz, Middle Eastern, Rock, Soul and Classical etc... and that most importantly showcased the sounds of some of my favourite musicians performing on the recording and let the influence of their music find a home in the compositions..hope you enjoy." Damian Wright

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through The Australia Council for the Arts, its Arts funding and advisory body. 

Distributed by ABC music.