In this case, the non-conventional instrument is the tarhu, a type of string instrument invented by Australian musician and craftsman Peter Biffin. It resembles the Turkish tanbur, the Chinese erhu, the north Indian vina, or vin, the Persian kamancha, the middle-eastern duduk, and the double bass. It gives the music an extra touch, an extra set of string arrangements which I quite like.
The music in this album is a warm blend of alternative rock, gritty blues and folk. It never gets too obtrusive or too heavy. Instead, the songs seem to pass by in a gentle, almost subtle fashion, be it a bit gloomy at times. Friendly ballads alternate with mid-tempo songs, each one with the potential to become a radio hit. So don't expect any headbangers of mosh-pit residents here, just a bunch of people having a splendid time dancing the night away.
The band seems to be influenced by bands like Radiohead, Sigur Ros and Led Zeppelin but I also hear plenty of Jeff Buckley, Black Crowes and even some Pearl Jam references. Once again it makes me long for the summer festivals as this music is perfectly suited for a warm afternoon on some cozy meadow. I can see lots of people enjoying songs like 'Security Slap', 'Already Gone' or the beautiful ballad 'Far From My Dreams'.
So yes, I do recommend this album to all you alternativos out there. I said it earlier and I'll say it again, rock music is one of the most widespread and comprehensive genres in the world of music. Everything seems to be possible, even adding a few electronic here and there. The Walk did an excellent job creating their own style, obviously aided by the sound of the tarhu but also because these are just damn good songwirters.
​Serge