The Olly Knox Experiment

WHEN song writer and acoustic guitarist Olly Knox came to Gisborne, New Zealand over?two years ago he was a fledgling Department of Conservation ranger with musical aspirations and a couple of live performances under his belt.

Now, things are different.

When Knox leaves next month he will be a qualified ranger, he will have notched up more than 60 gigs around the district, and he will have his debut album tucked into his backpack.

"I decided a long time ago that I wanted to record an album and it seemed important to do that before I left Gisborne," said the 24-year-old singer/songwriter, who recorded the album with percussionist Patrick Brennan under the Olly Knox Experiment moniker.

As well as the Knox/Brennan combo, Hemi Porou contributed some rich cello to the album entitled Themes while wind instrumentalist Abhudaya played flute.

Together they have created a collection of 13 tracks, on which songwriter Knox tackles topics from the social anthropology of Away to the existential My Centre.

Recorded on Wainui-based Luke Porter's Mutant Frog label, Themes is so named because Knox has tackled issues that have engaged him since his move to Gisborne.

"They are just things that are important to myself, things like reflection, peace, excitement and recklessness, that I wanted to share with others," he said.

"The songs aren't really your traditional ballads of love and loss. They are more about self-discovery."

While Wairarapa-raised Knox sees the album as just the beginning of a recording career, its launch will double as his formal?farewell as he, minus the invaluable Brennan, heads south.

Once he hits Wellington he plans to stop a while, focus on his music, play a few gigs, tour?New Zealand to promote the CD?and catch up with family before heading off for an extended sojourn overseas.

And he says the experience he has gained while in Gisborne has been vital.

"There is a really open, interactive music scene here and people are really willing to offer help and advice," he said.

"It has been really great to just hook up with people and jam . . . . people who are not just into the sound they are making, but are also interested in developing themselves personally."

Portions reprinted from the Gisborne Herald 30 June 2005