Luke Hurley is one of the great unsung heroes of New Zealand music and a highly original artist who has been writing, recording and playing music in this country since 1970. Currently based in Auckland, Luke travels widely throughout New Zealand playing festivals, pubs, cafes and private parties. In the past he has toured with international singer/songwriters Michelle Shocked and Marianne Faithful. He is also one of New Zealand’s hardest working buskers known to many for his dynamic street-level performances and was the only musician invited to play at the Auckland International Busking festival in 2006.
Remarkable yet largely unsung champion of New Zealand music Luke Hurley has released his first and much-awaited Best Of album; giving fans of his live concerts a rare chance to take home the gems of his life work. Renowned locally and abroad as an exceptional and original performer – both as street busker and live act – Hurley’s Best Of is an iconic compilation of over thirty years of independent music making. A fringe performer by inclination, Best Of reflects Hurley’s artistic development outside the confines of the music industry; featuring his characteristic southern melodies on acoustic guitar and experimentation with the politics of lyrical irony.
Linda Hughes, Groove Guide
May 2007
With this album it almost comes as a shock how long Luke has been an independent voice on the New Zealand music scene. It collects songs from the last 25 years and together they create a remarkable body of work from someone who has always remained true to his own muse.
From the ironic humour of the iconic “Mona Lisa” to his mournful eulogy for passengers lost in the Erebus crash (“Two Degrees”), Luke has been continually documenting New Zealand and the world through his unique eyes and here we find classics such as “Japanese Overdrive” nudging shoulders with the historical ballad “Duvalier” and introspective love songs like “Missing You” and “Fait Accompli” (which makes a fascinating comparison with Tracie de Jong’s totally different reading of the song on her Turning In album).
With 18 songs on offer it’s a generous collection, showing both the range of Luke’s vision and his remarkable consistency, both in quality and style, over a quarter of a century. This deserves a place in every Kiwi record collection.
The Weekend Sun
May 2007
At 18 songs, this compilation of Luke Hurley’s songs, like many “best ofs, only scratches the surface of the artist’s output. Given Hurley has been performing for more than a quarter of a century, perhaps 25 tracks would have been a rounder figure to play with. Still, that’s an observation more than a criticism, a bit of wishful thinking.
For those curious listeners who, like me, have a cassette of Hurley’s 1984 album, Japanese Overdrive, tucked into a shoebox somewhere, such a release is a welcome addition to the collection, one likely to sit in a more prominent spot alongside the likes of Paul Ubana Jones and Karen Hunter, fellow guitar-slingers with lyrics that speak from both head and heart.
Hurley’s compilation is a broad selection, featuring early material (Mona Lisa, Japanese Overdrive) along with more recent works such as First Civilian, penned in memory of teacher Christa McAuliffe and the six others who died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff on January 28, 1986. Much of Hurley’s work revolves around such acute observations, be they close and personal (Missing You — about his daughter Alice) or metaphysical (The Sound — about the Big Bang theory and its connection to music)
Regardless of subject, one thing remains constant—Hurley’s seemingly effortless guitar playing. In a recent interview, Hurley claimed he was less interested in technique than finding the core of a song. Yet it would be unfair to ignore such skill; he plays intricate, fast arpeggios while attacking the bass notes, the result a mixture of clear, chunky rhythms and silky harmonic textures.
There’s probably a better way to sum it up: Hurley makes it sound easy when it’s not. **** (four stars)
Shane Gilchrist, Otago Daily Times
May 2007
Tracing the folk roots of Luke Hurley across 25 years (1981-2006) The Best Of will do a great job of introducing this under appreciated Kiwi singer-songwriter to a new audience; whilst consolidating the best 18 selections from a handful of records for fans. Hurley has been described as “arguably New Zealand’s finest busker”. There’s a Dylanesque feel to some of the early songs, before the more ethereal, progressive folk-meets-new age vibe of Michael Hedges creeps in. Hurley is a great guitarist – and can work in both a band setting or as a one-man gunslinger. To be kept in the same company as Hammond Gamble, Paul Ubana Jones and the recent album from Graham Brazier, The Best Of Luke Hurley is well worth a listen. **** (3 and a half stars)
Simon Sweetman, Dominion Post
May 2007
Luke Hurley is something of a living legend in New Zealand and his Best Of is a collection of eighteen tracks featuring the highlights of his 25 year recording career. This album is essential for any Luke Hurley fan as many of these tracks have not been available for some time and they have been remastered specially for this compilation.
