Ashley Naylor “Alexandria Sunset”
Ashley Naylor’s latest solo album, Alexandria Sunset is a lush, vibrant testament to his talent, a true solo album with Ashley playing and singing everything on the album. The album has the rich full sound of a full band effort.
Ash doesn’t attempt to hide his passion for everything 60’s and 70’s on the album while keeping the music real with a 2025 sound. The album was built over the last few years, when he had a bit of down time on the road or in hotel rooms, while touring with The Church, Paul Kelly, Rockwiz and other bands, (not to mention solo gigs). For those of you who follow Mr Naylor, would know that these down times are extremely rare.
The album kicks off with the title song, Alexandria Sunset easing into some nice acoustic guitar and vocals, but when electric guitar comes out of nowhere, when you least expect it, it elevates the song to a new level. T.Rex and Pink Floyd get named dropped within the song, showing his influences early. The album masterfully bookends with Alexandria Sunrise, a continuation of Sunset sans vocals, flowing like credits at the end of a movie. And if that wasn’t enough, there is a bonus instrumental “reprise” on the CD (if your quick and get the first release). Would have been nice if these were fused together to finish the album. Ash seems to have a “thing” with these end reprises. Check out The Grapes album, Western Sun, with its reprise and Even’s in Another Time with opening track Satellite – Sunlight and the closing track Satellite – Moonlight.
There are hints of Donovan on As Good as Gold and T.Rex vibe at the beginning of Turn on the Light. Ashley has a way of building a central riff on the second half of songs, then over layering it with competing washes of electric guitar. It is the sound of dreamy, competing with raucous and works wonderfully on Turn on the Light and Semi Free. Of course there is the single Donovan’s Dream, a homage to the great folk singer from the 1960’s, a song that started life as an instrumental with words only added at a later date giving it an emotional sound.
Racing Time is The Who on Valium. It’s the opening guitar riff, sort of sounding like the synth start of Won’t get Fooled Again, that strangely works. Ashley laughingly told me recently he is still trying to re-write I Can’t Explain. It is a powerhouse track, maybe the best track on the album and I can’t wait to see it performed live, with a band of course.
Fans of Ashley already know the wonderful single A Blue Sky which channels the masterly of John Lennon. A masterpiece, simple and effective with basically just Ash and an acoustic guitar. The song could have easily fitted on Lennon’s Imagine album.
It is also refreshing to see artists reverting to the forty-minute album. The early heady days of bands trying to fill an eighty-minute CD just didn’t work. With just eleven well structured, beautiful songs, it is ideal for that walk in the sunset (or sunrise) or to listen to with a glass of red, quietly reminiscing about life passing one by.
If you order the CD, there are two bonus tracks, the afore mentioned Alexandria Reprise and Hotel Palace Grand, a track that sounds a little like an Even outtake (and there is nothing wrong with that). Both songs are worthy inclusions, so get in quick.
Ashley has said he is stepping outside Even for now to get his name “out there”. Releases of this calibre will should guarantee success for Ashley. Alexandria Sunset is an essential listen to anyone who is a fan of well crafted, classic rock leaning, rock.
Album Review by Geoff Jenke
