"Franklin’s effortless vocal melodies mesh with the lush guitars on tunes like druggy Syd Barrett tribute ‘Syd’s Eyes’ and the relaxed, sauntering ‘Sundown’. ‘Shining Somewhere’ lifts the tempo a notch, and the instrumental break ‘Theme From LSD’ works a treat in the middle of the album. ‘Coney Island Baby’ has a country and western vibe, and Franklin even verges on Elliott Smith territory with the beautiful ‘Song Of Solomon’ and the delicate folk of ‘Birdsong (Moonshiner Version)’." TIME OFF
Since Swervedriver went into orbit in 1999, Franklin has experimented with a number of stylings on six releases under the name Toshack Highway and one appearance on a compilation album under his own name. Franklin's seventh post-Swervedriver solo album, BOLTS OF MELODY is his first under his own name and is available now on Chatterbox Records.
Franklin's newer work alternates between a full band sound with acoustic/electric guitars, electric keyboards and bubbly moogs played through guitar effects pedals -- someone described the first album as “Spacefolk.” Sometimes, it's a much more back-to-basics affair -- just Franklin on his own playing simple melodic pop songs accompanied by the warm glow of the compression of the tape machine. Bolts of Melody is occasionally a little electronic and sometimes a little bit psychedelic, a little bit country, a little bit rock'n'roll. You know, whatever... Just take a listen.
Bolts of Melody features Franklin's recent Syd's Eyes single and Birdsong (Moonshiner Version), which were previously only available as Black Mountain seven-inch and Shifty Disco download-only releases respectively. The Australian release also contains SILVER FREIGHT TRAIN, a bonus track exclusive to the Australian CD.
Adam Franklin spent the 1990s as singer, guitarist and main songwriter for London-based Swervedriver, the genre-breaching Creation Records rock band. The group's heavy melodies incorporated traces of The Stooges, The Velvet Underground, Husker Du and Sonic Youth, but it never fit conveniently into a singular genre. Swervedriver's live shows were known for being loud and hypnotic with soaring, hook-laden tunes about UFOs and driving through the desert in the middle of the night.
ADAM FRANKLIN toured Australia in February 2008 to play a string of solo live shows to promote his debut solo album BOLTS OF MELODY, released on Chatterbox Records.
The tour dates were:
Thu Feb 14, 2008 - Brisbane, The Zoo
Sat Feb 16, 2008 - Sydney, Oxford Art Factory
Sun Feb 17, 2008 - Melbourne, East Brunswick Club
