Zak Riles - Zak Riles

Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Important Records, 2008
Genre: ambient, acoustic, folk, middle eastern
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Similar/Related: Grails, James Blackshaw, Sir Richard Bishop, Ravi Shankar, Popol Vuh, Priestbird, Ghost, Ash Ra Tempel, Earth, Secret Chiefs 3, John Zorn
Website : Myspace

"Zak Riles is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in the Important band Grails (as well as M.Ward’s band). His creative contributions to the group are immeasurable and can be heard clearly on this self titled debut solo outing. In fact some of the pieces on this solo record have been reinterpreted into Grails favorites. Like his band Grails, Zak Riles solo work is an elaborate mansion built of inspiration but with so much strength and originality that it stands firmly on its own. On these rocky shores come crashing waves of Sandy Bull, Mogolar, Deuter, Popol Vuh and the Ventures while Persian breeze drifts by wafting the melodies of Hossein Alizadeh. Essential listening for followers of Important Records who favor the likes of Grails & James Blackshaw.