Rowland S. HowardSix Strings That Drew Blood
Liberation / Mushroom

- In studying the musical timeline of Rowland S. Howard it would seem that behind every egocentric lead singer there lurks an infinitely more intriguing songwriter. Indeed the arrogance of former band mate Nick Cave can be summed up by his refusal to allow Howard to sing his own song Shivers on the Boys Next Door LP Door, Door.

Thankfully times have since changed and Rowland S. Howard is receiving the recognition he so rightly deserves - albeit posthumously - through the lovingly compiled Six Strings That Drew Blood, a four LP deluxe box set that places Howard’s solo material side by side with the best recordings of his previous bands and collaborations with the likes of Nikki Sudden and Lydia Lunch.

For the Rowland S. Howard devotee Six Strings That Drew Blood is nothing new, aside from the fantastic vinyl remastering. Most who appreciated the musician during his lifetime would no doubt own everything from Howard’s first demo recordings with The Young Charlatans to his final solo album, Pop Crimes. However, as an introduction to the artist it is a veritable goldmine; compiling the best of Howard’s various musical projects with the utmost care and respect. As a result, the true breadth of his musical vision is fully realized on Six Strings; from the buzz-saw guitar atmospherics of The Birthday Party’s The Friend Catcher to the aching, solemn reprieve of Ave Maria.

All of Rowland S. Howard’s influences are laid out bare in what is a beautiful homage to his growth as an artist, hearing an early fascination with the narcotic, blown out boogie of the Velvet Underground, the droll twang of Lee Hazelwood and the anger and violence of the emerging punk and post-punk scenes in late '70’s Melbourne.

Put simply, Six Strings That Drew Blood is an aural document of a talent that was not fully appreciated during its lifetime. Upon hearing the beautifully tormented music contained within the compilation it is morbidly fitting that Rowland S. Howard would only achieve proper recognition after his untimely death. Like so many great artists before him, the intensity of emotion conveyed in Howard’s recordings made it difficult for most to fully comprehend them while the musician was still alive. Only now are people daring to put the headphones back on.

-Dusty Anastassiou.

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