Peter Conway - Soundtracks Volume One

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 3 / 4 / 2017

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Review

It’s a real struggle in these times to keep up with all the good new music that’s being released (not to mention all the reissues that we missed out on originally,) and sometimes an album that blows you away from an unknown artist gets forgotten about after just a few months simply because there is so much great music about and these days it’s so readily available. Three years ago an album came our way by an artist that at the time was new to us, London based singer/songwriter Peter Conway. The album was titled ‘Stay’ and it was quite unlike anything else around at that time. From the opening song the smouldering, soulful, seven minute ‘Found My Faith in You’, it was immediately obvious that Conway was a special talent. Not only was Conway an exceptional songwriter who straddled genres (often in the space of one song) but vocally he had one of the most expressive, soulful voices of his generation. It was no great surprise to learn then that Conway had already had more than half a dozen of his songs featured in films and documentaries; many of his songs were little movies. But, even though ‘Stay’ was difficult to get out of the system and wasn’t filed away for some time, as so often happens another album or artist comes along and, in time, albums like ‘Stay’ as great as they are, are not pulled out and enjoyed as often as they deserve to be. When news reached us that Conway had assembled an album consisting of eleven songs that had been featured in nine original motion pictures ‘Stay’ was played by mefor the first time in some time and, yep, blown away all over again. Four years since first hearing the album and it still sounds like nothing else around right now. ‘Soundtracks Volume One’ features two songs from ‘Stay’. That opening cut ‘Found My Faith in You’ is still spine-tingling, and the way the backing band compliment Conway’s Joe Cocker-ish vocals is simply breathtaking. It’s one of those songs that’s soul music without being what is usually regarded as soul music, but that’s the place this song is coming from, deep inside Conway’s soul. The lead guitar solo still has the power to move as much as Conway’s vocals and the track still leaves the listener breathless and wanting more. The fact that it’s been sitting on the shelf when it could have given inspiration on those dark days we all experience at times is just frustrating. It’s staying out this time. ‘Lonely Tears (Use Your Imagination)’ is the other song pulled from ‘Stay’. and one of Conway’s smoky, soulful ballads that drips with emotion. Even when Conway’s songs clock in at over six minutes and are stripped back musically they never outstay their welcome. ‘Found My Faith in You’ was featured in the film ‘Pleasure Island’ for which Conway wrote the title song and also ‘If I Call’, both of which are included in this latest compilation. Some of the songs on ‘Stay’ saw Conway introducing a little funk and blues into his work but it was his soulful ballads that impressed the most; ‘If I Call’ is one of Conway’s most heartfelt performances. His vocals, world-weary and at their most emotive, can’t fail to move the listener. It’s another remarkable performance and yet another addictive melody. ‘Pleasure Island’, although instantly recognisable by Conway’s vocals, throws up yet another side to this talented musician, taking a more poppy, upbeat route to hang his lyrics on. Again it highlights what a versatile singer Conway is, while demonstrating that he can write radio-friendly thoughtful pop as well as soul-bearing ballads. Despite having a distinctive voice it came as a surprise to hear ‘Satellites’ on this collection. Featured in the Justin Timberlake / Mila Kunis film ‘Friends with Benefits’ this reggae- influenced slice of summer is far removed from what we’ve come to expect from Conway. Hearing it again it’s obvious it’s Conway, but as it suited the movie so well all thoughts of the artist disappear as the song sets up the film perfectly. ‘I am Not a Yes Man’ was featured in the Alfredo De Villa documentary ‘Harlistis-An American Journey’ (as well as the movies ‘Freestyle’ and ‘Gumball 3000 Coast to Coast’. You just can’t keep a good song down!) and is an up-tempo soul belter, a sprinkling of funk here and there and as catchy as the common cold. ‘Don’t Look Back’ is a stomping R & B infused slab of soul that sounds like it’s been shipped in from the late 60’s. It was featured in the Noel Clarke directed movie ‘4.3.2.1.’ and confirms once again that Conway doesn’t only understand this type of music. He lives and breathes it. As with ‘Stay’ this compilation of Conway’s soundtrack work covers many bases while always keeping one foot firmly in the soul camp; with his powerful vocals it’s difficult to place Conway in any other genre really, ‘Honey’ is pure soul and will find a home in any old soul boy’s heart. It is featured in the movie ‘Love Me Still’ as are ‘Chains’ and ‘Arms of Mine’. The former is one of Conway’s most affecting soul ballads while the latter is an acoustic dream of a song, stripped back to basics. It’s all down to that voice and a pretty melody and shows what a talented songwriter this artist is. Conway, for all the demand he attracts for soundtracking movies, is still something of an undiscovered talent. Every one of these songs, despite the part they played in the movie of documentary they were collated from, stands alone as a major piece of work. There are few artists that match Conway vocally and the rare few that do come close can’t match this artist’s ability to pair those vocals with their own compositions as Conway does. Showing all that makes Peter Conway so special ‘Soundtracks Volume One’ is really a ‘best of…so far’ ,and rediscovering this artist again has been one of the best musical events to happen this year. He’s not going to slip away again.

Track Listing:-

1 If I Call
2 Pleasure Island
3 Breakthrough
4 Lonely Tears (Use Your Imagination)
5 Satellite
6 I Am Not A Yes Man
7 Don't Look Back
8 Honey
9 Chains
10 Arms Of Mine

Band Links:-

http://www.songkick.com/artists/586078
https://vimeo.com/116984438
https://twitter.com/peterconwaylive
http://www.peterconway.net/
https://www.facebook.com/peterconwaymu
https://www.youtube.com/user/PeterConw

Label Links:-

https://open.spotify.com/album/2CnXobr