News & Reviews

You can now listen to Driver To The Stars, Japan and On Rope Street We Anchor at www.myspace.com/peteaves

A Family Tree

Record Collector, Jan 06 ****

'On the first day of the holidays I hoped it wouldn't rain/And I made some clicker clackers for my bike.'

There aren't many man and guitar acts who'd get away with a couplet like that, but then there's no doubting the fact that Pete Aves is one of the few. Unafraid of what the neighbours will say, he lets sitars and pianos, jazzy organ and folktronic flickerings filter into the nooks and crannies around his exceptional finger picked guitar. Intimate and observant, eccentric but oddly relevant, Aves sometimes recalls Steven Duffy, and even Kevin Rowland at his quiet best,bringing life and light to stories as far flung as a van driver's existential deliveries, obese America and John Lennon being just another bloke.

'Would I be a football player so amazing with his feet/ Or a pop star in a pop group like The Sweet?Or would I be just Pete?' Just Pete is just fine, leaving the High Llamas, his Beach Boys-obsessive day job, way behind.

Bystanding

An intimate and unassuming album, this, without being self indulgent-a little like looking through someone else's Kodak snapshots only to think to yourself that they might consider exhibiting. There's a less obvious homage to Brian Wilson than with the Llamas, although some of the arrangements here, like 'Bebop Hat', raise a smiley smile. While Aves inclines towards acoustic instruments this never feels fusty or folksy but breezes through like new-mown hay.
Uncut, Nov 2002

I've worked with many good guitar players and damn few great ones. Pete Aves is one of the great ones.
Lee Hazlewood.

Perfect lessons in the art of fine songwriting.
Rolling Stone(France), Nov 2002

The lyrics are great, the melodies are catchy and simple. Pete Aves is an artist with the ability to make you feel like you are listening to an old friend.
Bergens Tidende(Norway), Oct 2002

Anyone who can combine folk, 70s soft rock and Beatlesesque wistfulness definitely merits your attention.
Mojo, Nov 2002

Incredible musical craftsmanship
Nova(France)

A beautiful and atmospheric record
Faro Journalen(Norway)

A fascinating mix of bittersweet chronicles and amazing musical landscapes
Popnews.com

Fidelity

Rock'n'roll it ain't, but beneath home-recorded Fidelity's self-effacing, untutored manner- simple electric keyboards, gentle rhythms, murmured vocals - lie sneakily insidious melodies, thoughtful textures and an offbeat but sharply observant worldview. Mixing droll English humour with a darker side, it offers vivid images (the past confronts 'like a carpet stain'), domestic detail worthy of Squeeze and a gift for capturing emotions. The evocative scenarios ( a faded star enters an OAP home; a musician observes life in a touring show) and striking contrasts (Lewisham's tale of shopping trolleys and dodgy off licences is married to witty Beach Boys harmonies) are further rewards for those prepared to investigate.
Q, April 2002