WILD BILL RICKETTS: John Dryden

By Simon Sweetman

I cannot stop playing this album. I’m serious. I can’t. I have been thrashing this for a month or more – and that hardly happens, mostly because there is always new stuff to check out and old favourites to return to. But Wild Bill Ricketts – the solo-album persona of Phoenix Foundation percussionist/keyboardist, Will Ricketts – has created a beguiling album that brims and bursts with ideas. Considering Luke Buda and Sam Scott have released two albums each – and T.C. Wedde’s ‘Bronze’ was a very strong effort too – you could imagine being intimidated as a member of the Phoenix Foundation planning a solo sojourn. But not Ricketts. He has enlisted the help of ex-Trinity Roots man Rio Hemopo and Connan Hosford, among others, to provide vocals. But the production, writing and a lot of the playing comes from Ricketts. And, rather brilliantly, given that his main gig is as a percussionist, this album is a melodic triumph; a swirling cauldron of quirky concepts and contrasts, moving from weird folk to pretty psychedelic pop. I am convinced it’s one of the best albums I’ll hear all year.

Related Information

Issues

NZ Musician

June/July 2009