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Consult the official Steve Towson
discography. Read about Steve's guitars and other gear. Media Cygnus Olor, The Beginning, The Struggle, and The Reward, SHAH MAT REVIEWS Cygnus Olor Post Box Zine, 13 April 2011 "From the very first bow stroke on the Cello you can tell this is a top notch recording. This 3 track offering from The Conscripts is some of their best work to date" (Looey) The Beginning, The Struggle, and The Reward Rave Magazine, 07 June 2011 "With this handful of tracks Steve Towson outlines a thumbnail sketch of over a century's worth of worker's struggles. His versions of these traditional songs are sparse - guitar and vocals only - but that brings out the subject matter all the more, and Towson's voice sounds angry, tired and desperate, as the subjects demand. The EP celebrates the lives of workers and doesn't shirk from targeting the bosses in the shearers' strike (Ballad Of 1891) or the role of religion in keeping workers hungry in this life in exchange for Happy Meals in the next (The Preacher And The Slave). Tom Edwards is the only new song here - it's told in present tense, keeping Edwards, a dockworker killed in a clash with Fremantle police, alive for as long as people keep listening." (Don Sinnamon) Shah Mat The Dwarf, June 2006. Shah Mat means 'the king is dead.' It's good to know isn't it? Shah Mat, not Shat Mat: it's a subtle but very important detail. I won't even try to label the album with a genre; it'd be an ugly scenario, too many hyphens. Shah Mat is awesome. Just awesome. Some of the songs are absolutely stunning. It swings from a rocking swagger to brutal pangs of desire. I imagined, that this might be the sort of music Nick Cave might make if someone bashed him over the head with a shovel and told him come the hell back down to Earth. What I mean to say is that Shah Mat is poetic and acutely aware without the overbearing pretension (that's where the shovel came in.) There's a wholesomeness and verity to the album that's impressive to behold. The CD finished spinning and I was left feeling pretty satisfied with the whole experience, except of course for the fact that I was struck by the stark realisation that I'm an ignorant fool. Granted, I feel like an idiot fairly regularly but Steve and The Conscripts really burst my happy little apolitical bubble. Thank God for the lyric insert though, without it, I wouldn't have even noticed the politics for the music- Steve's voice is soulful and intense but sometimes it's nearly impenetrable without a hint from the cheat sheet. While you've got the words out, learn them. That way you'll know them for when you're compelled to see him live. Anyway closer A Beautiful Murri Girl has a didgeridoo solo. I didn't expect it, but I probably should have. Opening with The Straits of Gibraltar, it kicks off with a passion and verve that penetrates the whole albums. A personal favourite of mine was If This is What it Means, chronicling some of the details of a woman in an abusive relationship with a jaunt that sounds vaguely reminiscent of an Irish jig. Irony comes best with rhythm. (Steph Maker) The Venom In My Veins Ricecooker Zine, 26 June 2005 "What can I say, you lot! Go out and get this ASAP! As for myself, I'll be hunting for more Steve Towson & The Conscripts stuff, they are right on my alley what brilliant punk rock is supposed to be and I'm stoked!" (Joe Kidd) The Straits Of Gibraltar Bizoo Zine, June 2004 "Having never heard of Steve Towson, this recording has left me in a spinning world of procrastination with its raw and such unique sound. I could not compare this cd to anything of my previous knowledge as the cd breaks out into the upbeat sounds of "The Straits Of Gibraltar" and ends in the strong and hard soulful sounds of "Winds Over Meandarra". The guitar work has been done extremely well with an implementation of many styles such as funk, folk and soul all wrapped into one; the guitar is fast, technical and precise as it compliments the lyrical abomination that is to follow. Lyrical wise this record is awesome, a poetic feel that is contained well with his emotional vocals. A range of vocal styles has been used to keep up to pace with the diversity of Steve's guitar. Credit must also go to the Conscripts for the backing instruments, it must have been a challenge to adapt to such an original sound. In all this is a great release, if I could find a down point to this cd it would have to be that there are only 4 songs. But having said that there is nothing wrong when I put these 4 songs on repeat. Keep a look out for Steve Towson in the future!" (Nathan) 1 Shot At Freedom Blunt Magazine, Issue19, May 2003 "Steve Towson is a very brave man. It's just him, his guitar, his ideas and his emotion up there on stage and on CD telling us like it is. Or at least, like he thinks it is. He has no band to cover up his inadequacies, no lush production and harmonies to aid his weak voice and obviously no editor to guide his socio-political meanderings. Hailing from Brisneyland and armed with a rawboned electro-punkabilly style of playing Steve Towson is aware, astute and ballsy. A much more worthy act than many of the corporate aided, Pepsi swilling troubadours currently spreading their cheer, Towson has a bright future, but the blood and bone approach of 1 Shot At Freedom will grate many. 7/10 stars." (JS) In A Shattered State Semper Floreat Magazine (UQ Student Union), July 2002 "Steve Towson's overwhelmingly manic 50s blues/rock style is impossible to ignore from the moment you start listening to "In a Shattered State". Frantic, yet at times lulling, this album is unique in Brisbane's oh-so-repetitive meat and potatoes rock and pop diet. The overall sound is classically retro, Bob Dylan-esque vocals with insightful, reflective lyrics accompanied solely by blues/rock guitar which, at times, reaches fever-pitch. "When the Revolution Comes" draws you in with its catchy guitar rhythms and melody, a really enjoyable track and more moderately paced than most of the album. The opening songs, "Ngombi's not dead" and "15 minutes of your love" burst out enthusiastically and are rounded off with the cruisy sounds of "I want the blues" and "You're a fool (Kinda weird)". I found the more relaxed paced tracks easier to digest, both on the basis of melody and lyrics, although the rapid guitar-based tracks have their own dizzying charm. The flavour of the lyrics is overwhelmingly left-wing, with social upheaval and politically commentary equally addressed. Unfortunately the impact of these sentiments is often lost in the unrestrained fervour of the guitar. An interesting musical contribution, check Steve out to hear him for yourself around the local Brisbane scene." (msterygrrl) |
